Kona Community Hospital: Community Update – September 17, 2021
We are currently treating 11 COVID positive inpatients at KCH; 3 in our ICU and 7 in the hospital’s COVID unit. Inpatient numbers have trended down for almost a week. The overall average length of stay per patient is 9.1 days. Although the current situation with oxygen has improved, we will continue conservation measures until the state-wide situation stabilizes.
This update contains a number of announcements and news articles regarding vaccine mandates for healthcare workers and state facilities, the Hawaii SMART Health Card and monoclonal antibody testing. Please take time to peruse these materials as they may contain information regarding upcoming changes to our hospital’s processes.
Please see today’s update below.
Kona Community Hospital COVID-19 update for September 17, 2021 (as of 8:30am) below:
- Hospital-wide census: 63
- 11 total COVID-19 patients
- 4 ICU (of 6 total ICU patients)
- 7 Med Surg COVID Unit
- 1 ventilator(s) in use for COVID patient(s)
- 0 vaccinated COVID patients in-house
- 2 total COVID-19 “long hauler” patients
- As of September 17, 2021 a cumulative total of 19 COVID-related deaths have occurred in the hospital (this is a change from last report).
Current Testing sites: The KCH Emergency Department is NOT a public testing site.
Visit County of Hawaii - COVID-19 Testing webpage for information and a listing of free community testing sites.
Vaccine Boosters for Immunocompromised People: The CDC recommends vaccine booster shots for moderately to severely immunocompromised people (COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People | CDC. ) Booster vaccines are not currently available at KCH. However, vaccine boosters have become available from many local agencies, pharmacies and other health care providers.
NEW: Today, the FDA advisory panel rejected a plan to make the Pfizer booster available to most Americans. Please read details here: FDA advisory panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for elderly, high risk groups.
Current vaccination sites in Hawaii County can be found on the Hawaii County COVID-19 Vaccine Summary webpage. This site contains a calendar of vaccination sites.
Information from our partners at Community First:
Announcements:
Media:
·Hawaii Tribune-Herald – Sept. 13: Antibody clinic on way: HMC hopes to have COVID-19 treatment center running this month
Star Advertiser – Sept. 9: Gov. Ige says contractors, visitors to state facilities must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test result
See additional COVID-19 information at the Kona Community Hospital website.
KCH Call Center & COVID Email for replacement COVID-19 vaccination cards may be submitted to the KCH Call Center phone line or the COVID vaccine email address.
- KCH Call Center 808-322-4451 (Note: this phone is for voicemails only).
- KCH Email Address: KCHCovidVaccine@hhsc.org (Note: email is currently the preferred form of contact).