The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oʻahu (Queen’s – West) held a blessing ceremony today for its new, high-capacity ambulance bay as part of its ongoing Emergency Department expansion project.
Queen’s – West leaders, staff, and invited guests attended the blessing, which included the untying of lei.
The new ambulance bay features include:
- Double the capacity from three to six ambulance stalls to accommodate higher patient volume and improved traffic flow
- An extended overhang to protect patients, EMS personnel, and staff from inclement weather, enhancing efficiency and safety
- Advanced infrastructure, including an expanded main entryway and a dedicated security office
“As the state’s leading safety-net health system, this new ambulance bay will strengthen safety, enhance response times, and provide seamless access to life-saving emergent services to better serve our Central and West O‘ahu communities,” said Jason Chang, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Queen’s Health Systems. “We remain committed to the mission of our founders, Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, to provide in perpetuity, quality health care services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaiʻi, and this new ambulance bay will help us achieve that for years to come.”
In addition to the new ambulance bay, the ongoing Emergency Department expansion will:
- Double the size of the current Emergency Department to 40,884 square feet
- Increase the number of treatment rooms in the Emergency Department from 23 to 55
- Add an additional 48 inpatient rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the facility totaling 152 patient rooms
- Include dedicated spaces for patients with behavioral health needs, ensuring patient and caregiver safety
“This continued expansion will help ensure that our patients can receive comprehensive care closer to home, which can minimize travel and support better health outcomes in the process,” said Robin Kalohelani, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Queen’s – West Oʻahu and Queen’s – Wahiawā. “This will allow us to better care for our patients in an expanded setting designed to be easily accessible and seamless.”
Queen’s – West is the second busiest Emergency Department in the state, after Queen’s – Punchbowl.
The new ambulance bay is scheduled to open and begin accepting patients tomorrow.
For more information about the services provided at Queen’s – West, visit https://www.queens.org/locations/hospitals/qmc-west-oahu/.
