Congressionally Directed Spending for Construction Projects - Background and history: Molokai Ohana Health Care Inc. (MOHC), dba Molokai Community Health Center, is the only federally qualified health center (FQHC) on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. Since opening its doors in 2004, MOHC’s primary clientele is the indigent, uninsured and underinsured population of Molokai, whose purpose is to address the community’s health care needs with an array of quality, cost-effective health care programs: • Primary health care: pediatric, adult and general lab service; • Behavioral health care: consultations, assessments and treatments conducted by a licensed psychologist, LCSW; Marriage and Family Therapist; support groups, and integrated behavioral health with primary care; • Dental health services: from comprehensive dental exams, hygiene, and dental health and education programs; • Enabling services, Patient Navigation, and Eligibility: such as providing outreach and screening through the Mana Mobile Medical Van and providing transportation to MCHC via the Ho’okele Health Non-Emergency Medical Transportation program; an on-site Community Food Pantry; Case Management Services, and eligibility services; and • Women, Infant and Children program (WIC). Summary of health care needs: MOHC’s dental department has an average patient encounter of 19 patients per day, including hygiene and oral hygiene education appointments, dental exams and consults, and all restorative work. Our dental program has realized a 99% increase in new patients since January 2020; 238% since January 2018. Restorative appointments are booking out eight weeks, and hygiene appointments are currently booking out four months. This growth rate is likely attributed to the fact that MCHC is the only dental practice on island accepting new patients; also contributing is the fact that MCHC accepts all patients through our doors, regardless of ability to pay. There are three dental practices on the island of Molokai; two private practices and MOHC’s practice. MOHC’s dental practice is currently able to serve over 1,200 unique patients through our existing program each year. Molokai Ohana Health Center (MCHC) is expanding its dental clinic to meet the overwhelming demand for dental services. With this funding, MOHC is proposing to double the size of the dental operation, with increased space for a dental residency program. This expansion of dental services will allow MCHC to increase the number of dental patients seen annually, add new jobs to the economy, and provide a long-term workforce capacity building opportunity for dentists and hygienists profoundly needed in rural Hawaii. The scope of project also addresses renovations to the Primary Care building. Originally constructed in 1972, the building foundation has recently been inspected, and the findings showed extensive termite damage to the subfloor, as well as ground shifting causing structural concerns to the post and pier foundation. The work to be conducted on the primary care building includes hiring a qualified structural engineer to review the foundation and provide plans and specifications to provide additional support to the existing post and pier foundation. The subfloor and flooring in the building will also be removed and replaced. Completing these much-needed projects through the Community Project Funding will ensure MOHC continues the continuity of care as the island’s only safety-net provider, that so many residents of Molokai depend on.
