Progress on mental health ward cited

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Maui Memorial Medical Center officials said yesterday that they are making progress toward reopening the hospital's adolescent mental health ward by the end of August.

Wesley Lo, interim hospital CEO, said he expects to extend an offer by week's end to the top candidate for the newly created position of medical director for psychiatric services. The director will oversee both the adult and adolescent mental health wards and help with emergency calls.

The Molokini II ward was closed June 1 after the unexpected departure of the unit's two staff psychiatrists. One moved to the Mainland; the other didn't want to be on-call virtually all of the time.

Lo said that although the new director will be available to take calls, at least three other staff psychiatrists are needed to share the emergency workload.

He said some of the director candidates are moving to Maui regardless if they get the job, to open private practices, and have indicated they would be willing to take a hospital staff position for emergency calls.

"We are committed to providing the service, and we're shooting for the end of August," Lo said.

Maui Memorial was the only Neighbor Island hospital providing psychiatric care for youth, serving Maui and Hawai'i counties. During 2002 and 2003, Molokini II had 244 admissions.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.