MAUI LIVES MATTER!

As a resident of Maui, I am appalled at the travesty that is occurring at Maui Memorial Medical Center – the ONLY acute-care hospital serving the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

The inability of our government leaders and the unions to come to agreement about the future of healthcare on Maui is staggering.

For many years, our only hospital has struggled with being underfunded by the state. Now, when a solution has been presented, the ability to close the deal is stalled, roadblocked and obstructed in every way.

Money is not the only issue. Because of the future uncertainty, numerous lawsuits and months of turmoil over this problem, it is virtually impossible to recruit desperately needed physicians and nurses. The remaining hospital staff are doing their very best to ensure quality care for patients. But with 400 position vacancies, this situation will surely come to its breaking point very soon.

Kaiser is not the first organization that has been interested in partnering with Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC), but surely they will be the last after this dismal representation by our government and unions.

The people of Maui will stand for this no longer. Settle this matter NOW. Closing hospital services and flying patients to Oahu is UNACCEPTABLE. Why are matters of life and death not taking precedence over every other issue facing the state at this time? It has been heartbreaking and frightening to realize that the leaders in charge of these negotiations do not care about whether people live or die on Maui.

All trust in our government and in the supposed goodwill of the unions has been lost, and will not be recovered.

Make no mistake – lives will be lost. The sad fact remains that the political dysfunction in our state is harming an entire community. Maui lives matter!

Thank you,

Lisa

Lisa Varde, CFRE

Executive Director

Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation

www.MauiHospitalFoundation.org