Waianae health center gets $2 million for new ER

The Abercrombie administration released a $2 million grant for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center on Wednesday. The community health center will use the money to develop a two-story, 22,000-square-foot Emergency Medical Services building to replace the existing emergency department.

The 37-year-old building is no longer adequate for the more than 18,000 annual ER patient visits, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. "By rebuilding the facility, the center will be able to meet the emergency medical, disaster preparedness and crisis behavioral health needs of the Leeward Oahu community," he said.

The project will add eight rooms to the facility. A total of 15 rooms will be used for triage, trauma cases, emergency labor and delivery, X-ray services and patients with psychiatric health needs. The center also is raising private funds to complete the project.