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Welcome to Lāna`i Community Health Center

The Lāna'i Community Health Center’s mission is to take care of the community of Lāna`i by directly providing health services (primary care, dental, behavioral health and selected specialty services) to the community; providing activities and services through partnerships with local organizations as well as the many off-island organizations reaching out to Lāna`i by serving as coordinator, advocate, resource, initiator, and convener;
and working collaboratively to provide space for partners who can provide needed services for Lāna`i.

OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday: CLOSED

ORAS TI OPISINA
Lunes/Martes/Miyerkules/Huwebes: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Biyernes: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sabado: 8:00 am – 3:00pm

LOCATION
Health Center: 333 Sixth Street

LOKASYON
Italmeg ti kakalbitan iti mapa tapno maiturong kayo iti Mapa ti Google Ipigket ditoy a pahina: Lugar a masarakan iti 478 Lauhala Place, Lanai City, HI Para ti kadakkelan nga pangbuyaan iti mapa, mabalin nga ipadakkel ken ipabassit, ken iprinta ti direksyon

(808) 565-6919

333 Sixth Street, Lāna'i City, HI

Open Monday - Saturday with evening hours available

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Nurse Practitioner Program

Smiling asiatic nurse woman looking at you

The Lāna‘i Community Health Center (LCHC) started providing health care services in September 2008. In a cozy, home-like setting the LCHC offers the community members of Lāna‘i a choice as to where one can seek health care services. The choice is not only one of location, though; it is also a choice in ‘model of care.’ LCHC utilizes both family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and doctors as providers giving you options for your care. It is this difference in provider types that offers our community a ‘model of care’ choice.

Family Nurse Practitioners practice independently — meaning they are trained, credentialed and able to practice without the supervision of an MD.  The LCHC FNPs also have prescribing authority — which means they can prescribe medicines for our patients, just like an MD. Our FNPs are enrolled as providers with all common health insurers (i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, AlohaCare, OhanaCare, Quest, HMSA, etc.), and have obtained hospital admitting privileges at Lāna‘i Community Hospital.

But there is a difference between FNPs and MDs — the model of care:  MD’s utilize a ‘medical model’ while the FNPs utilize a ‘nursing model.’ The ‘medical model’ emphasizes rational, logical, scientific ways of assessment. Though primary care specialties are more likely to emphasize getting to know the patient in a holistic way, the interpersonal complexities of patients’ lives often have relatively minor implications when determining a care plan. The ‘nursing model’ emphasizes viewing and understanding the importance and complexity of patients’ problems in relationship to the whole context of their lives.  As caregivers, FNPs tend to spend much more time interviewing patients as they take histories and they emphasize education and fitting care procedures into the patient’s life context. As ‘caring’ has long been a central focus of nursing, the ‘nursing model’ goes beyond being nice and nurturing. The ‘nursing model’ sees ‘caring’ as a style of learning about a patient and giving assistance that involves a sensitivity to patients’ emotional needs, family living situations, and to the ways that patient health problems can be addressed in a way that fits smoothly into the patient’s lifestyle.

Studies show that FNPs are able to effectively treat at least 90% of all pediatric patients and 80% of all adult patients – with outcomes that are equal to or better than care provided by MDs.  Studies have also shown that there is little or no difference in health status of patients seen by FNPs as compared to doctors. Additionally studies have shown that while more lab tests are ordered by the FNPs the cost is less, and that while the average number of visits is similar, there are fewer hospitalizations for patients seen by FNPs.  Also, FNPs received higher scores on resolution of health problems, patient satisfaction, functional status and patient compliance.

Training

MD

  • Bachelor of Science (pre-med degree)
  • Medical School (4 more years)
  • Internship (1 more year)
  • Residency (think of this as anon-the-job apprenticeship)

FNP

  • Bachelor of Science (nursing/registered nurse degree)
  • Masters degree (2-3 more years) Doctorate Degree
  • Didactic/clinical Internship (as part of the masters degree-program)
  • Specialty training (a combination of classroom training and on-the-job apprenticeship in a focused area, such as women’s health, cardiology, family practice, etc.)

FNP’s often have years of experience as nurses in hospitals before returning to get their NP.

Licensing

MD
  • Medical Board Exam
  • Specialty Exam
FNP
  • NP Licensure Exam
  • NP Exam/Certification

Model of Care

MD
  • Medical Model
  • Nursing Model
FNP
  • Curing
  • Caring

So, there you have it — LCHC Family Nurse Practitioner  providers offer our community a choice! LCHC utilizes both family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and doctors as providers giving you options for your care.  Call 565-6919 if you would like to speak to a Lanai Community Health Center provider or to schedule an appointment.