Hilo Health Care (obgyn, insurance, bus) - Big Island - Hawaii (HI) -The Island of Hawaii - City-Data Forum

julygirl · 02-05-2010, 04:39 AM

Hi, we are a family of 3 (married couple with a 3 year old). We are moving to the Hilo area this summer for a job relocation. We are from Oahu, so we are not concerned about sticker or culture shock. I am, however, a little concerned about the health care available in/around Hilo. We always have had HMSA coverage, but we will be able to choose between HMSA and Kaiser in Hilo. My question is: in Hilo is one of the coverages better for health care (such as the difference in ER services available)? If you were giving birth or got seriously injured would you rather go to Kaiser or Hilo Hospital? We'll be looking at having a second child next year, so good maternity services are a must. I'm not expecting top-of-the-line world class facilities, just good and reliable service. I've also heard that finding a doctor who accepts new patients is hard in Hilo. Any truth to this? My priority would be to have a good pediatrician for my child. We are excited for the move, but this is really weighing on my mind. Thanks for any info!

cynmkolohe · 02-05-2010, 12:00 PM

I hardly ever go to the doctor, so can't really speak from personal experience. But, a friend just had a baby and was very pleased with Kaiser. I'll see if I can send her this way to write about her experience....

mdand3boys · 02-05-2010, 12:29 PM

Hilo does not have a trauma center. A recent article in the Hawaii Tribune Herald noted that work was being done to achieve a level one trauma center status. If "something bad" happens - you fly to Oahu.

cynmkolohe · 02-05-2010, 03:44 PM

There is a recent development, but it's West side: First Big Isle hospital designated Level III Trauma Center | Hawaii247.org (http://www.hawaii247.org/2010/02/04/first-big-isle-hospital-designated-level-iii-trauma-center/ - broken link)

dwedeking · 02-05-2010, 04:50 PM

Trauma Center? I thought they just pushed you out to the sharks, had a luau, and divided up your stuff if you had an accident.

mdand3boys · 02-05-2010, 05:33 PM

Quickly back to the topic...

When one is flown to Oahu for treatment, do they also fly you back? I would assume so, but you never know.

KoaKine · 02-05-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Quickly back to the topic...

When one is flown to Oahu for treatment, do they also fly you back? I would assume so, but you never know.

My understanding from my reasearch is that if you need service that can be done only on Oahu then insurance pays for the trip round trip. My wifes friends had to go last week to Oahu to get his eyes treated all covered 1 day trip.

hotzcatz · 02-05-2010, 06:22 PM

Kaiser will fly you over there, pick you up at the airport with a shuttle bus, take you to their hospital, ship you back to the airport via shuttle bus and fly you back home. They don't compensate you for the airport parking or the entire day it takes to have a fifteen minute procedure done.

mdand3boys · 02-05-2010, 06:23 PM

Do they also pay for a relative to go along?

cynmkolohe · 02-05-2010, 06:23 PM

Here is my friend's reply:

I chose Kaiser and have been so very pleased with it. Newcomers with HMSA can have a hard time finding doctors that are accepting new patients and therefore end up having to sit around at bay clinic and wait to be seen as a walk-in. And they may have a different doctor each time. Kaiser has Dr. Voit for obgyn, he has been with kaiser for several years now and he went to Yale, which made me feel comfortable with him

I also like the idea of seeing all my doctors in one clinic-- and getting rxs there too. And if you have a special condition or anything, it makes it much easier for your specialist to collaborate with your other doctors. i see an eye specialist-- he flies in from oahu a couple times a month. The things that some people don't like: not being able to see any doctor in town that you want. you have to see a kasier dr. Now that being said, kaiser has and KEEPS great doctors. i also love my baby's pediatrician.

one thing to consider-- you can not have your baby at the north hawaii hospital in waimea if you have kaiser, where almost every woman wants to go to have a baby! for me, not an issue-- i would never plan on having my baby somewhere so far away-- you have to drive there for all appts, and there are many at the end of pregnancy. and a good thing i didn't go for it, because i was in labor by the time i got to hilo medical center. i cannot IMAGINE having my husband drive me all the way to waimea.

kaiser on this island does not have a hospital like oahu-- so if you have procedures (or a baby) you go to hilo medical center with kaiser doctors. that can seem scary, but i have been there 3 times already and have had good experiences. especially having the baby. the nurses are AWESOME. everything was so much better than i expected.

that is my honest opinion. we have to go with hmsa in the summer when open enrollment happens, because with a baby, hmsa will be much cheaper for us. i am upset about this already. i love kaiser and the doctors we see there.