Maui residents question builders on hospital

LAHAINA, Hawaii >> Residents on the west side of Maui are wondering how a planned new hospital will attract and pay physicians.

The Maui News (http://bit.ly/1oY2JVx) reports construction is expected to begin next year on West Maui Hospital and Medical Center in Lahaina by Newport Hospital Corp.

Kaanapali resident Roger Ross at a community meeting Monday said there’s only a handful of specialists now on the island and most are on call at Maui Memorial Medical Center on the island’s east side.

Newport President Brian Hoyle says the new hospital is not focused on hiring specialists and it’s premature to speculate on a budget for employing doctors.

He says the new facility will be a critical-access hospital serving a rural community and will be limited to 25 acute-care inpatient beds.