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Monday – Saturday, 7am – 5:30pm
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Connecting Patients With Their Loved Ones
Ali Chisti, MD, a hospitalist at The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oʻahu saw the heartache and loneliness in his patient’s eyes and found a unique way to alleviate that loneliness with the help of colleagues and friends.
Under strict measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, changes to the visitation policy have prohibited families from physically being with their loved ones who are hospitalized. “An unintended consequence [of the no visitors policy] is that I’ve never seen sick patients so alone,” said Dr. Chisti. It is isolating and frightening for patients not to be able to see their loved ones and feelings of loneliness can affect a patient’s healing process. Without face to face visits, some patients are able to stay in touch with loved ones with smart devices. Unfortunately, many kūpuna don’t own a smartphone, while many other patients don’t own a device with a front-facing camera.
Understanding the financial burdens hospitals are currently facing, Dr. Chisti launched an innovative campaign to raise funds to buy new smart devices, while also requesting donations of gently used devices to keep patients connected with their loved ones. As Dr. Christi began emailing colleagues and friends, word quickly spread. Moved by the sadness of family members not being able to be there for those they care about, many immediately responded to the call including two Queen’s – West Oʻahu nurses, Shaun Voss and Libby McCaffrey, as well as Dr. Chisti’s medical school classmate, cardiothoracic surgeon Gurian Lantz, MD, who donated 10 Amazon Fires. Additionally, Curtis Kropar of nonprofit Hawaiian Hope donated multiple devices. If spearheading this virtual visitation program wasn’t enough, Dr. Chisti also personally picked up devices from friends and donors, received others through the mail, and worked with IT to develop protocols to physically and electronically clean, configure, and distribute devices that are now able to provide reassurance to patients when they are alone and afraid.
As a result of Dr. Christi’s compassion and efforts, one tablet is now available on each floor at Queen’s – West Oʻahu, with more on the way. To see patients’ faces light up when they are able to virtually reconnect with their loved ones is priceless.
While Queen’s physicians and nurses provide the highest quality of care, staying connected with ‘ohana during this unprecedented time is an integral part of a patient’s healing process. “It is a rewarding experience to see how our patient’s spirits are lifted when given the opportunity to connect with their family and friends. Technology may not take the place of an in-person visit, but during these challenging times, it is filling the gap in remarkable ways.” said Dr. Chisti.
Ways to Help
Your gift will allow us to respond quickly as this pandemic rapidly evolves. It will provide lifesaving medical care and protect the ongoing safety of our community and healthcare workers. This includes:
– Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health care workers
– Enhancing telemedicine capabilities to ensure our patients have an alternative to physically visiting the hospital, thereby averting possible exposure to the virus
– Purchasing ventilators and new technology
– Supporting operational costs for triage and testing efforts (i.e. tenting, staffing, etc.); and
– Providing assistance as additional needs are identified.
If you would like to make a gift, please click on the button below. For additional questions, please contact the Fund Development Department at 808-691-4976.
Ensuring our healthcare workers are protected and have adequate supplies is a top priority. Queen’s is accepting donations of new and unused critical care supplies for our providers, including personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes:
– Masks (N95, surgical and procedure);
– Disposable gloves;
– Disinfecting wipes (such as Clorox or Sani-cloth wipes);
– Hand sanitizer;
– Face shields;
– Goggles and eye shields; and
– Isolation or surgical gowns.
To donate these materials, please drop-off your donation at one of the following locations:
The Queen’s Medical Center-Punchbowl
Hospital Valet – Front Entrance
Time: 6:00am – 7:30pm
Contact: Corey Au at 808-691-4364
The Queen’s Medical Center-West Oahu
Receiving Loading Dock – Mauka side of the hospital
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Mark Hinshaw at 808-691-3000
Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital
Contact: Julia Ramos at 808-885-4444
Molokai General Hospital
Administration Building
Time: Business Hours from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Contact: Business Hours – Jan Kalanihuia 808-553-5331
After Hours: Emergency Room
After Hours Contact: Emergency Room Registration Clerk 808-553-5331
Please note: These locations do not require an appointment for drop off. However, if you are donating a substantial quantity of materials, please first contact our Supply Chain Department at the numbers listed above to arrange a delivery date and time. The attached form may be used when making your gift.
Many individuals from the community have generously offered to sew cloth masks to supplement our preparedness.
We are accepting fabric masks from our community as we prepare for COVID-19. While fabric masks are not to be used in the care of COVID-19 patients, according to the CDC, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted. Fabric masks can also be helpful in other areas of patient care as supplies of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) are depleted.
If you would like to donate hand-sewn cloth masks, we ask that you use four pleat style or cone style. This design is specifically intended to help extend the safe use of PPE, serving as an “outer mask” while also providing alternatives for other situations that may arise in the future.
To donate food and beverages for our health care workers and staff, items must be packaged and unopened.
FOOD / SNACKS / BEVERAGES
- Must be served as individual portions and packaging. This includes:
- Entrees, plate lunches, pizza slices, bakery products such as donuts, muffins, Danish, cookies, bread and bagels to be individually wrapped.
- Sandwiches and salads are to be packed individually and labeled.
- Beverages must be single serve.
- Flatware and condiments must be individually wrapped
- Confirmation of temperature monitoring
- Food not permitted: Raw, including sushi or poke, unpasteurized juices, eggs, milk, etc.
- Snacks need to be individually wrapped
- While homemade snacks would be appreciated, for the safety of our staff, we will not be able to accept at this time.
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