Health Care on Kauai
Health care on Kauai is excellent. The main hospital, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, offers a remodeled Diagnostic Imaging Center including ultrasound, MRI, CT, and X-ray. The Bone and Joint Center there offers the latest in minimally invasive knee and hip replacements. In fact, this is where famous surfer Bethany Hamilton's life was saved by the quick action of members of the ambulance and medical staff.
All but the most extreme cases are performed at Wilcox, and patients needing specialty services are flown to Straub Hospital and Clinic in Honolulu or Queen's Medical Center, both world-class medical centers.
In centrally located Kilauea, there is a first class clinic: The North Shore Medical Clinic, which is closely affiliated with the Kauai Medical Group (several dozen specialists including a renowned orthopedic group and diagnostic imaging center). This clinic and staff are a direct pipeline to the world class Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, and services VA and Kaiser enrollees, too.
Other health care services include the Kauai Medical Group, closely affiliated with Wilcox, with over 60 specialists and primary care physicians, with convenient local offices in Kilauea, Kapaa, Lihue (main Clinic), and Ele'ele. There are, in addition, physicians in practice and specialists who visit the Queen's Medical Center Kuhio Medical Center right across from Wilcox. Services such as physical therapy, dentistry, and alternative healthcare, are readily available.
There is one other acute care hospital on the west side of the island, Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, named in honor of returning heroes from WW II.
Many first class health insurers are in Hawaii including HMSA (the Blue Cross/Blue Shield contractor), Kaiser (which local doctors honor), HMA, and others. Veterans have local services, and the famous Tripler Medical Center located in Honolulu.
