Inspire 2016 FALL
Kapiolani: Celebrating the New Diamond Head Tower
The Diamond Head Tower was made possible thanks to generous donors and the community
Until they built the Diamond Head Tower, space had been limited at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. The new building has opened up new possibilities, adding 200,000 square feet with five floors that include an auditorium, conference center, rehabilitation center and chapel.
The tower opening in July was the ultimate celebration of the Campaign for Hawaii’s Children, which raised more than $34 million toward this first phase of construction to rebuild the hospital.
“This is certainly a highlight of my near 13-year career at Kapiolani – for the simple fact that this new tower and the overall expansion will redefine our care,” said Kapiolani Chief Executive Officer Martha Smith. “With this tower, we’ve expanded the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit and the medical surgical unit for women. Each of those areas has more private rooms than we ever thought possible.”
More space means families will soon be able to stay with their loved ones overnight in the new neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. Research shows that patients heal better and faster when families are involved with their care. The neonatal intensive care unit is now five times as large as the current space, growing from 8,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet with 70 private rooms large enough for parents or caregivers to be bedside. State-of-the-art rooms are equipped with the latest technology to enhance patient care and safety, including wireless communication features, digital screens, nurse call systems, decentralized nursing stations, and emergency power and data for patient monitoring systems.
Kapiolani’s team launched the largest capital campaign in its history to make the Diamond Head Tower a reality. The tower is the first new hospital facility built for Kapiolani since the medical center opened on Punahou Street in 1978. The community response was wonderful. One hundred and fifty spaces and rooms are named after the community leaders, businesses, physicians and employees who generously donated.
The Diamond Head Tower made an impact on care the moment the first patient walked through its doors. By the end of the year, all of the new department areas will have transitioned to the new space. The final department to move will be the neonatal intensive care unit as transferring each premature baby will require the assistance of entire medical teams.
Despite the incredible accomplishments of phase one, Kapiolani Health Foundation Chair Jeff Arce says that there is still much work to be done.
“The plans are drawn up for the next 10 to 15 years,” said Jeff. “There are other areas that still require generous contributions in order to give every department in this hospital a well-deserved renovation or more space. This tower and the eventual rebuilding of the hospital is the future of health care in Hawaii. And the people of this community are the reason it is here.”
The Bingham building at Kapiolani was recently demolished, opening up construction for phase two and the next capital campaign. The fundraising needs for this new structure are still being determined as planners continue to finalize design plans.