In many areas of the United States, urgent care walk in clinics have become an integral part of local healthcare systems. These medical centers, which do not require appointments and are typically open for convenient hours, provide treatments for a number of non-life-threatening conditions. As a result, many patients rely on urgent care clinics for affordable and timely medical care. However, despite their benefits, urgent care centers have not been as popular on the islands of Hawaii, which currently have only ten urgent care facilities. But this could soon change: in January, a new urgent care walk in clinic opened in Waipahu.
A former sugar plantation on the island of O’ahu, Waipahu recently became the latest area in Hawaii to add an urgent care center. Called Ekahi Urgent Care, the urgent care walk in clinic is located in a 2,200 square foot facility with four exam rooms and one procedure room. Presently, the center employs three physicians and eight medical assistants. The clinic is overseen by Dr. Kevin Lum, the former medical director of emergency services at Kuakini Medical Center, a private hospital in Honolulu.
Like many urgent care centers, Ekahi Urgent Care offers treatment for a number of non-critical conditions, as well as lab tests, physicals, and radiology services. However, as the first urgent care clinic opened by Hawaii-based company Ekahi Health System, the center plans to stand out by offering a technology platform that will help track patients’ medical information. The platform allows medical professionals in the Ekahi Health System to access medical records, a tool unique to urgent care centers which will help doctors provide higher quality care.
The clinic will be open seven days a week, offering treatment from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Already, the company is planning on opening a second urgent care walk in clinic in Kalihi-Palama in April, as well as a third location in downtown Waipahu. For more about this, go here.