Doctors On Call opens new urgent care clinic in Honokowai
HONOKOWAI – Doctors On Call (DOC) has expanded, with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art urgent care clinic on the West Side.
The sparkling new 1,700-square-foot facility at the Honokowai Marketplace at Times Supermarket is now the hub of the Doctors On Call network of offices extending from Kaanapali to Kapalua.
Traditionally resort-based, the ultramodern clinic is conveniently located with plenty of parking and accessibility to the whole community and visitor population.
Dr. Norman Estin, the pioneering founder of DOC, is justly proud: “It has multiple exam and treatment rooms, an acute care trauma treatment room for serious medical problems and minor surgeries and a top-of-the-line, high-tech digital X-ray facility.”
Estin described the importance of the new facility in our FEMA-designated isolated community of West Maui.
“Most people by now are very familiar with what urgent care is, and why it really is the key medical service in a community like ours. Urgent care is basically most things a regular family doctor would do, plus all the minor emergencies, accidents, infections and illnesses that come along each day to all of us.
“None of these need an emergency room,” Estin observed, “where the costs are so high and the waiting times are so long for the patients. These are also usually the things where most clinics or medical offices would give you an appointment for in a few weeks or months, rather than be able to see you immediately like we can. Fast, friendly and convenient.”
The 21st century clinic is designed with ergonomics and patient privacy in mind, where “high-tech meets high touch,” the DOC medical director observed.
“It was built in a circular module. Check in and check out is separated, so the patients get their privacy,” Office Administrator Paige Williams described.
“We outgrew what we had,” Williams continued. “We now provide better patient care. We can flow people through faster; there’s not a lot of wait time.”
“What we did with the new office is create a convenient, state-of-the-art urgent care facility, with the most modern, efficient and effective system and equipment, in a friendly, attractive and welcoming design, all with the same trusted doctors, nurses and staff,” Estin added.
Dr. Estin leads the staff of four doctors, one physician’s assistant, eight registered nurses, two X-ray technicians, one certified practice administrator and medical biller and six receptionists.
Estin’s experience is impressive and unique.
He has served as an Olympic physician for 12 years (as recently as the 2012 London Olympics), medical director/advisor for the PGA Kapalua Golf Championships, medical director/provider for the Maui Invitational (NCAA) Basketball Tournament, medical doctor for NBC, scuba instructor and Divers Alert Network doctor.
“I’ve been a doctor here since 1987,” Estin said. “Doctors David and Kari Adams have been here 13 years. We have Dr. Lori Bennett, a full-fledged Emergency Doctor; she’s been here two years, and we’re adding more doctors and other staff as we grow.”
David and Kari, a married couple, specialize in family medicine and urgent care.
“Our staff is all experienced in all of ocean sports’ medicine and we supervise the medical aspects of recreational diving for the dive shops and take care of most of the problems that come up with snorkeling, diving, etc.,” Estin added.
“We really function like a minor Emergency Room – we have full digital X-rays, evaluate cardiac patients, give breathing treatments, take care of fractures and lacerations, and run IV fluids.”
Estin wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on the planet: “Lahaina and the rest of West Maui, what a special place. It’s got all the advantages of a small town without most of the disadvantages You can form relationships easily, run into people frequently and are never really more than a couple of minutes away from what you need.”
Doctors On Call is open for regular and urgent care seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 13 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“We’re open when people need us,” Dr. Estin said.
Patients are seen on a walk-in basis. Call 667-7676 for more information.