WAIMEA — The opening of the Diagnostic Laboratory Services outpatient Patient Service Center on Tuesday in the Kawaiola Medical Building triggered the announcement by the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) of its new partnership with DLS to operate hospital laboratory services.
The laboratory services will offered on-site at both Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a.
“We are proud to bring Kaua‘i high quality lab services, islandwide,” said Lance Segawa, the HHSC Kaua‘i Region Chief Executive Officer.
New guide signage and a flow of patients taking advantage of the new service center marked the first day of operation at the Kawaiola Medical Building, which is connected to the KVMH. Plans call for the opening of the service center at Mahelona Hospital later in 2024.
Both labs will provide comprehensive testing for infectious diseases, drugs, pathogens, genetic disorders, women’s wellness and more.
“One of the benefits of this partnership is that individuals living from Kapa‘a to the North Shore, who previously had to travel to Lihu‘e for lab services, will be able to utilize the lab at Mahelona Hospital,” Segawa said. “This convenience will save families precious time and resources.”
Prior to the partnership, SMMH did not provide in-house laboratory services and KVMH operated an on-site laboratory with two employees. Both employees were offered employment by DLS in the partnership.
“KVMH and SMMH have a great and long history of providing vital services to their patients, and we are excited to become an integral part of that,” said Mark Wasielewski, the DLS president. “We look forward to expanding our services to the people of Kaua‘i and improving their access to top quality health care.”
Diagnostic Laboratory Services is the largest locally owned medical lab in Hawai‘i and has served Kaua‘i since 1994. The addition of the KVMH and SMMH DLS labs add to their current locations in Kalaheo and Lihu‘e.
Career opportunities are available at the KVMH and SMMH labs. Visit www.GreatCareersDLS.com for more information.
