Queen's holds blessing ceremony for expanded emergency department
The Queen's Health Systems held a blessing ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate its newly expanded Emergency Department at its downtown campus.
With the untying of maile lei, the department celebrated the newly renamed Uytengsu Family Emergency Department at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
The department recently underwent renovations that expanded its size, more than doubling the number of its treatment rooms, and now offers dedicated facilities for state-of-the-art CT and X-ray services.
'Enhancing our Emergency Department with state-of-the-art expansion will be a game-changer and increase access to life-saving emergent services for all, ' said Jason Chang, Queen's president and CEO, in a news release. 'We remain committed to the mission of our founders, Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, to provide in perpetuity, quality health care services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii, and this new facility will help us achieve that for years to come.'
The department was renamed in recognition of a rom Candice Uytengsu to support the expansion—the largest contribution to Queen's made by an individual.
The first phase of the expansion is part of Queen's $1 billion, multi-campus master plan to better meet the current and future needs of patients.
Queen's in May 2023 announced that construction would begin to upgrade the emergency department at its Punchbowl, or Manamana, campus.
The Queen's Medical Center's Emergency Department—the state's only Level 1 trauma center—is considered the busiest in Hawaii, accommodating more than 62, 000 patients a year, including most of the state's most critically ill and vulnerable populations.
It is also the state's only comprehensive stroke center, only organ transplant program, and the busiest STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction ) center for the specific type of severe heart attack.
It also cares for the greatest number of patients with behavioral health conditions, Queen's said.
The new Emergency Department now offers 76 treatment rooms, up from 35 previously. It now has dedicated space for patients with behavioral health needs.
It also has been designed to improve patient flow, allowing staff to separate patients with suspected or confirmed infectious disease from other patients, including those at higher risk.
The department's mechanical systems have been upgraded to allow for negative air pressure needed for isolation rooms, along with enhanced air filtration to help prevent the spread of viruses.
Additionally, the department now features The Wo Family Foundations Waiting Room, named in recognition of the Wo family's $1 million contribution.
Last September, Queen's also held a groundbreaking ceremony for an emergency department expansion project at The Queen's Medical Center-West Oahu.
Queen's-West has the second-busiest emergency department in the state.
A new, three-story building and renovations are planned for the West Oahu campus, where demand for health care services is projected to increase by about 5 % each year.
The West Oahu project is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
The Uytengsu Family Emergency Department at Queen's Punchbowl campus is scheduled to officially open later this month.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Watch out for these 9 poisonous plants this summer in Louisiana to avoid allergic reactions
During the summer, many people may spend time working outdoors, embarking on hikes or otherwise spending time in nature. If you're someone who finds themselves spending ample time surrounded by foliage, it may be a good idea to know what types of plants can cause allergic reactions upon contact. There are numerous species of plants in the U.S. that can be found in Louisiana that are poisonous, or contain substances that produce allergic reactions of the skin. Many plants that are commonly found in Louisiana can cause allergic reactions of the skin or are harmful to ingest and, in order to avoid these plants, it's important to know what to look out for. Poison hemlock is an invasive plant in North America that is native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Poison hemlock can be found in Louisiana, and all parts of this plant are highly poisonous to people and animals, as ingesting even small amounts of this plant may result in death. The plant typically measures three to eight feet tall and has stems that are hairless and hollow with ridges and purple spots, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Spotted water hemlock is a widespread, native plant to North America that can be found in Louisiana, and it's often called the most deadly plant in North America. All parts of this plant are highly toxic to humans and animals, and ingestion may cause abdominal pain, convulsions, delirium, nausea, seizures and vomiting, often resulting in death. The plant usually measures three to six feet tall and has stems that are smooth and hollow, with stems varying in color and pattern, from solid green or purple to green with purple spots or stripes, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Poison oak is distinguished by leaves that have three leaflets, like poison ivy, with rounded tips, and the undersides of the leaves are fuzzy and lighter in color than the top. Poison oak contains an oil called urushiol, which causes an allergic reaction in most people when it comes into contact with skin. Poison oak rashes are characterized by redness, itching, swelling and sometimes blisters, according to Cleveland Clinic. Poison ivy is a common poisonous plant that also contains urushiol, which causes an irritating, itchy allergic reaction when you touch the plant or an object that's been in contact with the plant's urushiol oil. Poison Ivy is characterized by each leaf containing three leaflets, and there is a popular saying that goes, "leaves of three, let them be," says Cleveland Clinic. Wild parsnip is an invasive plant that's native to Asia and Europe, but it can be found in Louisiana. This plant usually measures two to five feet tall and has stems that are hairless and grooves. Coming into contact with wild parsnip may cause skin irritation, blistering rashes and skin discoloration, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Queen Anne's lace is an invasive plant native to Asia and Europe that can be found in Louisiana. While some may not experience any negative reactions, those with sensitive skin that come into contact with Queen Anne's lace may experience skin irritation. This plant usually measures one to two feet tall and sometimes has a small reddish flower in the center, and its stems are fuzzy with small grooves, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Poison sumac thrives in wet, swampy regions in the Northeast, Midwest and parts of the Southeast U.S. Leaves of a poison sumac plant have clusters of seven to 13 smooth leaflets arranged in pairs, and a full-grown poison sumac tree can reach up to 20 feet tall. This plant also contains urushiol oil, which causes severe skin inflammation and dermatitis, according to LSU AgCenter. Leadwort is a shrub that thrives in the climate of the Southeastern U.S. and it can be found in Louisiana. This plant has shiny green leaves and blue flowers that bloom from spring until fall, and turn a deep shade of red over the winter. Coming into contact with this plant can cause blisters to develop, says Healthline. Stinging nettle is found throughout the U.S., including in Louisiana, and often grows in dense patches near streams, in ditches, along hiking trails, and on farmland. This plant has singular stems with green or purple branches that grow up to eight feet, with dark green leaves that have a pointed tip and are two to four inches long. The plant's branches and leaves can have stinging hairs, that feel like a sharp sting and produce a burning or itching sensation and hives that can last for up to 24 hours, according to Healthline. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What poisonous plants are found in Louisiana? Avoid these 9 this summer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Queen's holds blessing ceremony for expanded emergency department
The Queen's Health Systems held a blessing ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate its newly expanded Emergency Department at its downtown campus. With the untying of maile lei, the department celebrated the newly renamed Uytengsu Family Emergency Department at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. The department recently underwent renovations that expanded its size, more than doubling the number of its treatment rooms, and now offers dedicated facilities for state-of-the-art CT and X-ray services. 'Enhancing our Emergency Department with state-of-the-art expansion will be a game-changer and increase access to life-saving emergent services for all, ' said Jason Chang, Queen's president and CEO, in a news release. 'We remain committed to the mission of our founders, Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, to provide in perpetuity, quality health care services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii, and this new facility will help us achieve that for years to come.' The department was renamed in recognition of a rom Candice Uytengsu to support the expansion—the largest contribution to Queen's made by an individual. The first phase of the expansion is part of Queen's $1 billion, multi-campus master plan to better meet the current and future needs of patients. Queen's in May 2023 announced that construction would begin to upgrade the emergency department at its Punchbowl, or Manamana, campus. The Queen's Medical Center's Emergency Department—the state's only Level 1 trauma center—is considered the busiest in Hawaii, accommodating more than 62, 000 patients a year, including most of the state's most critically ill and vulnerable populations. It is also the state's only comprehensive stroke center, only organ transplant program, and the busiest STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction ) center for the specific type of severe heart attack. It also cares for the greatest number of patients with behavioral health conditions, Queen's said. The new Emergency Department now offers 76 treatment rooms, up from 35 previously. It now has dedicated space for patients with behavioral health needs. It also has been designed to improve patient flow, allowing staff to separate patients with suspected or confirmed infectious disease from other patients, including those at higher risk. The department's mechanical systems have been upgraded to allow for negative air pressure needed for isolation rooms, along with enhanced air filtration to help prevent the spread of viruses. Additionally, the department now features The Wo Family Foundations Waiting Room, named in recognition of the Wo family's $1 million contribution. Last September, Queen's also held a groundbreaking ceremony for an emergency department expansion project at The Queen's Medical Center-West Oahu. Queen's-West has the second-busiest emergency department in the state. A new, three-story building and renovations are planned for the West Oahu campus, where demand for health care services is projected to increase by about 5 % each year. The West Oahu project is expected to be completed by summer 2027. The Uytengsu Family Emergency Department at Queen's Punchbowl campus is scheduled to officially open later this month.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Medscape
Head CT May Be Essential in Older Adults With Delirium
A study found that 1 in 6 older adults with delirium in the emergency department (ED) had abnormal findings on head CT, even without traditional risk factors for intracranial pathology. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of two prospective observational studies (one conducted from 2009 to 2012 and the other from 2012 to 2014) involving a total of 160 patients with delirium, aged 65 years or older (median age, 76 years; 62.5% women; 20% non-White), at an urban, tertiary care academic hospital. The primary outcome measure was a "positive composite head CT," defined as any acute intracranial abnormality seen during the index hospitalization or a new neurologic diagnosis within 30 days of the patient's ED visit. Researchers evaluated the diagnostic performance of five commonly cited risk factors — including anticoagulant use, recent head trauma, focal neurologic deficits, headache, and altered level of consciousness — to determine their ability to identify patients needing head CT. A secondary analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic performance of six less common risk factors: Current antiplatelet use, current aspirin use, new or worsening seizures, history of brain hardware, recent falls, recent non-fall trauma, and vomiting secondary to trauma. TAKEAWAY: About 15.6% of older patients with delirium had a positive composite head CT. The absence of any common risk factors did not reduce the likelihood of a positive composite head CT (negative likelihood ratio [NLR], 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-2.4), except for focal neurologic deficits, whose absence slightly lowered this likelihood (NLR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9). Only new or worsening seizures (positive likelihood ratio [PLR], 5.4; 95% CI, 0.8-36.6) and history of brain hardware (PLR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.2-25.3) moderately increased the probability of having a positive composite head CT. IN PRACTICE: "Given that there is a high rate of abnormal head CTs, our study suggests that older ED patients with delirium should receive a head CT as part of the diagnostic workup, even in the absence of any risk factors," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by James O. Jordano, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. It was published online on May 16, 2025, in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine . LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its single-center, secondary analysis design and small sample size. Reliance on retrospective chart review may have introduced misclassification of risk factors. Additionally, the exclusion of critically ill patients and the lack of enrollment during weekends and overnight hours may have introduced selection bias. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Center for Research Resources, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
