Open-heart Surgery For Castle

Castle Medical Center received state approval March 5 to provide open-heart surgery, making it the only Windward facility able to deliver this service.

“We’re looking to start the program to fill the gap that’s been left by the closure of Hawaii Medical Center East and to serve the Windward community,” said Wendi Barber, the hospital’s chief financial officer, noting that it complements the full range of care already available at CMC.

The total cost for the necessary operating room renovations, training and upgrades is estimated to be $3 million. Castle also plans to hire specialized nurses and professional staff in accordance with the new program.

“We’re moving forward, and we’re looking forward to performing the first surgeries,” Barber said.

Cardiac surgeon Dr. Henry Louie, who practiced at HMC, approached Castle Medical Center earlier about the possibility of acquiring a certificate of need for the open-heart surgery program, and he is also considering moving his practice to Castle Medical Center.

Owned and operated by the Seventh-Day Adventist health care system, Adventist Health, CMC opened in 1963 and sits at the crossroads of Kaneohe and Kailua with 160 beds, 1,000 employees and 248 physicians.