HMC Hospitals In Liliha, Ewa To Close

The operators of Hawaii Medical Center hospitals in Liliha and Ewa say they’ll be closing the bankrupt facilities within three weeks, a move that will put nearly 1,000 people out of work and eliminate more than 340 hospital beds.

The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that besides the job losses, shutting down the medical centers will also have a dramatic impact on health care.

The newspaper says HMC provides dialysis services and operates the only organ transplant center in the Pacific.

The Ewa facility is the only full-service emergency hospital in West Oahu. With the planned closure, the 150 patients in the two hospitals will have to be moved or discharged.

State officials are hoping a buyer or buyers can be found to keep the facilities running.