Wilcox Memorial Hospital: A strong tradition. A healthy future.
Wilcox Memorial Hospital has been Kauai's leading medical facility since 1938. It is now recognized as one of the top 100 rural hospitals in the United States. Together with our partner, Kauai Medical Clinic, Wilcox Memorial Hospital ensures Kauai residents and our many visitors have access to the best healthcare. Our recent merger with Straub and Kapi'olani to create Hawaii Pacific Health ensures we will continue to grow and continue providing exceptional care far into the future. On Kauai, Wilcox Health comprises the Kauai Medical Clinic, Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Wilcox Health Foundation.
Wilcox Health: a healthcare network that works for Kauai
In 1996, Wilcox Memorial Hospital affiliated with Kauai Medical Clinic to integrate resources, teaching programs and case management. Today it's known simply as Wilcox Health. Wilcox Health has advanced with the times to meet the medical needs of Kauai's residents and visitors and has become a full-service, cutting-edge medical facility.
After more than six decades of service to Kauai, Wilcox Health is still rooted in caring. We continue to not only meet, but exceed our community's expectations. It is with this steadfast commitment to offer accessible, quality healthcare in a spirit of compassion and integrity that Wilcox Health will continue to deliver top-notch health services well into the future. Our priority is a healthy Kauai and we invite you to join us as we strive to realize our vision.
The History of Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Wilcox Memorial Hospital is the result of enlightened community planning and dedication.
Mr. George Norton Wilcox and Mrs. Dora Isenberg were among the first to envision a community hospital with a medical staff open to all eligible physicians on Kauai. This was achieved on November 1, 1938, with the official dedication of a T-shaped two-story building on 17 acres of land donated by the Lihue Plantation. It was built at a cost of $200,000. More than 1,000 Kauai residents attended the ceremony and 15 days later the new 86-bed hospital accepted its first patients.
Periodic expansion programs continued over the years. The first expansion took place from 1955 to 1958 with the addition of a kitchen, an obstetrical wing, medical library, conference room and additional space for laboratory and X-ray departments. Another milestone was reached in 1966 with the advent of the Outpatient Department built adjacent to the main hospital. Plantation dispensaries were phased out at this time and the eastside physicians began practice in the modern and attractive facilities later forming the Kauai Medical Group Inc.
The third expansion was completed in August 1971 and resulted in the present $4.2 million Acute Patient Care Tower and Special Diagnostic and Treatment Facility. The air-conditioned addition was the culmination of four years of planning and research. In addition, a new laboratory and physical therapy building opened in 1977.
Since then, remodeling and renovation has been ongoing to accommodate the hospital's many new services and programs, which includes an Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and a CT and MRI facility in the Imaging Department, which was renovated and expanded to include more exam space and updated equipment. In 2005, the department was named the Wilcox Family Imaging Center as a tribute to the generosity of the Wilcox Family on Kauai.
Other hospital milestones:
1990:
- New three-story long-term care patient wing.
- Expansion and relocation of Same Day Surgery
- Enlarged kitchen and dining facilities; modernized engineering facilities.
- Expanded conference and administrative areas.
- Three new labor/delivery/recovery suites added.
1995: Emergency room renovation.
1999: Renovation of patient rooms and new radiology equipment.
2000: Wilcox Memorial Hospital recognized as one of the Nation's Top 100 Hospitals by HCIA and the Health Network.
2001: Accounting and coding offices relocated to hospital's makai (ocean) building. Renovations begin in vacated space for new patient exam rooms. Adult Day Health Center relocated to Lihue Christian Church Social Hall. In 2001, Wilcox Memorial Hospital also merges with Kapi'olani Health and Straub Hospital and Clinics to create Hawaii Pacific Health.
2005: The Wilcox Family Imaging Center was opened with a new entrance facing Kauai Medical Clinic and adjacent the Emergency Department. The center installed a new MRI, CT Scanner and Nuclear Medicine Camera and expanded patient care areas.
2006: The new Surgical Center opens in the fall of 2006. Part of a $14 million project and capital campaign, the new 8,350 center under construction will provide five surgical suites and nineteen recovery rooms as well as the most modern equipment and furnishings.
The Wilcox Legacy Continues Today
Following the ideals of our founders, Wilcox Health remains committed to providing the finest healthcare.
Our Vision
"A Healing Environment in a Healthy Community"
Our Mission
To serve the Kauai community with accessible, quality healthcare that surpasses expectations.
Our Values
- Service
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Community
- Innovation
- Compassion
- Excellence
We support other organizations and services to make sure our patients, our customers, and our island's needs are met. We manage all our resources with responsibility and foresight, so that all present and future generations are cared for.
Our Partnership in Hawaii Pacific Health
Hawaii Pacific Health, a partnership uniting Wilcox Health with Oahu-based Kapi'olani Health and Straub Clinic & Hospital, is the product of two years of organizational assessment, design, planning and negotiating. An organization of shared resources has emerged that benefits our patients.
Economic efficiencies in the following areas will allow us to continue our tradition of providing the best healthcare:
- Facility planning
- Corporate compliance administration
- Legal process and risk management
- Financial planning
- Strategic planning
- Human resource administration
- Revenue cycle management
- Information management and technology
- Marketing and public relations
- Fund development
The end result will be a more comprehensive, responsive and patient-centered healthcare network.
An example of an immediate, tangible benefit to our patients is the Wilcox HealthLink — our Web-based medical library made possible through collaboration with our Hawaii Pacific Health partners.
Other high priority network projects in process:
- Diagnostic Center: We have retained Architects Hawaii and are looking at space configurations. We continue to meet with stakeholders. A fund development strategy is also under consideration
- Implementation of an Administrator-on-Call rotation, including patient visitation.
- Evaluation of information systems, including electronic medical record capability.