Thousands of patients seeking answers as Maui health center grapples with tech meltdown
pWAILUKU HawaiiNewsNow A medical center on Maui is experiencing major computer problems that are impacting thousands of patientsppMalama I Ke Ola Health Center shut down abruptly earlier this month blaming IT issuesppAfter more than two weeks the health center in Wailuku finally reopened Wednesday but with limited services Patients are clueless about what is going on and say they want answersppFolding tables and chairs are set up outside the center off Nani StreetppHandwritten signs inform patients where to goppA lot of paper charting No computers or anything said Machayla Culver a patient and a registered nurse at another facility on MauippGetting that information stored in paper format like they used to do said Paul Terry another patientppAccording to federal data Malama I Ke Ola Health Center serves nearly 12000 patientsppIts website says it is a federally qualified health center that has been serving keiki to kupuna on Maui with medical dental and behavioral health services for 30 yearsppManagement at Malama I Ke Ola Health Center is not explaining what exactly is going on However patients got a text message on May 7th stating the center will be closed due to IT issuesppThat was 16 days agoppSince then multiple messages have notified patients the center remains closedppIts really stressful because once you get back into the system I would imagine that they have to scan everything in and kind of backtrack the past however many weeks Culver saidppIts hard to not have any access to your patient information So I can imagine its really stressful for them as much as it is for the patientsppPatients also got a text message stating Malama I Ke Ola will be launching a new electronic health record system starting April 20th Many are wondering if that is the problemppAlways worried about personal information being hacked Terry saidppThere was no information shared in the text messages as of recently if there was any breach in confidentiality So I dont know that But I did have that thought in my mind said CulverppHawaii News Now tried to speak with management about the issue on Wednesday but was told they would release more information on ThursdayppCopyright 2024 Hawaii News Now All rights reservedp
