Stroke treatment network expanding
Hawaii Telestroke Network, a partnership between Queen’s Medical Center and the state Department of Health, is expanding its project linking small rural hospitals to Oahu specialists via video conferencing.
The project, which aims to improve the survival rate of stroke patients in rural communities, will expand to Hilo Medical Center — which has used the system as a pilot project since 2008 — Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Maui Memorial Medical Center. The project recently began treating patients this year at Molokai General Hospital and Wahiawa General Hospital.
The project links Queen’s neurology experts to emergency doctors in rural communities via video to help make treatment decisions quickly for stroke patients who typically don’t have access to specialists.
Hawaii Telestroke Network last year won a three-year state grant totaling $454,212 to install and operate video technology at seven hospitals.
Wahiawa General is sponsoring a community health fair Oct. 27 from 9 to 1 p.m. to provide demonstrations.
City bonds earn second-best rating
Fitch Ratings has assigned an "AA+" rating to $890.4 million worth of general obligation bonds to be sold by the City and County of Honolulu next week.
The bonds will be offered to individual investors during a one-day retail order period on Wednesday. An order period for institutional investors will follow next Thursday.
The "AA+" rating is one notch below Fitch’s top rating of "AAA."
Approximately $250 million of the proceeds will be used to fund various capital projects, according to Fitch. The balance will refund $50 million in outstanding commercial paper and all or a portion of several outstanding general obligation bonds.
Several series of bonds will be issued in the sale, all of which will be exempt from Hawaii income taxes. Some of the series, however, will be subject to federal taxation, according to a news release from the city and county.
Grant awarded to improve Kuhio Park area
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding a $300,000 grant to a public-private partnership aiming to revitalize the neighborhood around Kuhio Park Terrace and Kuhio Homes in Honolulu.
The Hawaii Public Housing Authority and its private development partner, The Michaels Development Co., on Tuesday said their application was one of 17 selected from a pool of 72.
The Choice Neighborhoods grant encourages collaboration among housing developers, educators, the criminal justice system and others to create mixed-income neighborhoods with quality housing, high performing schools and safe streets.
The state and the development company are working on a $135 million project to rehabilitate the Towers at Kuhio Park. It’s the first phase of a multiyear revitalization program for Kuhio Park Terrace and Kuhio Homes.
Earnings drop for world’s No. 2 soda maker
NEW YORK » PepsiCo Inc.’s net income dipped 5 percent in the third quarter as the snack food and beverage maker poured more money into bolstering its flagship brands and developing new products that position it for the future.
Still, profit for the company, which makes Frito-Lay chips, Tropicana juice and Quaker Oats, was above Wall Street expectations and Pepsi stood by its guidance for the year.
PepsiCo, the world’s No. 2 soda maker, is trying to play catch-up to bigger rival Coca-Cola Co. At a time when people in developed markets like the U.S. have grown more concerned about drinking sugary sodas, both companies have been relying more on bottled teas, water and other drinks. But soft drinks remain a big business and Coca-Cola has boosted its market share in recent years through aggressive marketing and innovative packaging.
PayPal service boosts eBay earnings
NEW YORK » EBay’s third-quarter net income grew 22 percent, helped by higher revenue at its PayPal payments service and the marketplaces business that includes eBay.com.
The results were roughly within expectations, with revenue a little light and earnings a tad higher than what Wall Street analysts had predicted. EBay Inc. also raised its full-year guidance slightly.
The online commerce company said Wednesday that it earned $597 million, or 45 cents per share, in the July-September period. That’s up from $491 million, or 37 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenue grew 15 percent to $3.4 billion from $2.97 billion.
ON THE MOVE
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health-Hawaii has promoted Dan Davis III to project manager for the Outer Pacific Islands from quality improvement coordinator for the organization’s Informatics and Physicians Quality Reporting Systems. He has more than 13 years of experience, which includes working for Interactive Care Technologies, Aim Healthcare Services as well as served as an independent contractor.
Bank of Hawaii has promoted Dirk K. Yoshizawa to senior vice president and manager. He joined the bank as a bank associate in 1995.
Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation has announced new officers for the 2012-2013 board of directors: Randy Aina, president; Laura Bonilla, president elect; Ralph Kanetoku, treasurer; and Christopher Yasuma, secretary.
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center. The grant will support the construction of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center educational facility.
