MEET YOUR TEAM
The joy of having a baby is unlike anything you will ever experience. At Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, our team of obstetrician-gynecologists, certified nurse-midwives, and other health care professionals are here to ensure you and your baby can experience the happiest “birth” day possible.
Your Personal Physician
Your personal physician, also known as a primary care practitioner (PCP) or physician, is a medical staff member who provides basic health care services. This may include a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Members choose a personal physician at a primary care department:
- Internal medicine (cares for adults)
- Family medicine (cares for you and your whole family)
- Pediatric medicine (cares for patients from birth through age 16 or 18, depending on the clinic/medical office)
Obstetrician-Gynecologists
You'll have the obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyn) on your team both before and after you deliver your baby at the Family Birth Center. Your ob-gyn at your home clinic is there to care for you and your baby while you are pregnant.
Obstetricians are medical doctors who specialize in the care of pregnant women from the time of conception through delivery and the period following delivery (postpartum). Most obstetricians are also gynecologists who diagnose and treat diseases of the female reproductive system and provide care for women when they are not pregnant. Thus the name obstetrician-gynecologist, or ob-gyn.
An ob-gyn can further specialize in perinatology (maternal-fetal medicine), which focuses on high-risk pregnancies, testing, and fetal development. An ob-gyn may specialize in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (care of women who have hormonal or fertility problems).
Ob-gyn can be board-certified through the Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Certified Nurse-Midwives
Our certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) provide primary health care services for women, including gynecologic, family planning, and obstetric care services. Our CNMs are part of an integrated team of medical professionals who specialize in managing normal pregnancies, including care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They care for women in all stages of life from adolescence to post-menopause. CNMs may also write prescriptions for medications and health care products needed to care for women throughout their lives.
CNMs are registered nurses with master's degrees in nursing. They are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives to practice midwifery and they hold Hawaii State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licenses.
Your Integrated Team
Whether your pregnancy is low-risk or high-risk, you will receive care from an integrated team of physicians and midwives. Our CNMs work side by side with ob-gyn physicians in high-risk situations. In addition, an ob-gyn physician is available 24/7 at the Moanalua Medical Center.
Getting Care
If you have routine pregnancy and maternity services as a covered benefit, there is no extra charge for midwifery care. You can make a prenatal appointment with one of our CNMs. No referrals or approvals are necessary. Our CNMs are available 24/7 at the hospital and M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at selected clinics and medical offices.
Pain Management CRNAs
Your pain management certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) specializes in providing safe and effective treatments such as epidurals to help relieve your pain. You'll work with your CRNA to choose a pain management method that coincides with the desires of your birth plan.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner’s (NNPs)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner’s (NNPs) are highly skilled, extensively trained practitioners of intensive infant care. These advanced practice nurses help provide and direct the care care of premature and term newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. NNPs consult and collaborate with neonatologists to manage the daily care of your baby, provide education to patient families, and promote positive parent and infant outcomes. They are an essential part of your baby’s NICU team.
Family Birth Center Staff
At Kaiser Permanente's Family Birth Center, your nurses, technicians, specialists, audiologists, pharmacists, and chefs are here to ensure you have the happiest “birth” day possible.
Nurses
Nurses at Kaiser Permanente focus on providing you with a healing environment—one that maintains a caring, comforting practice nurturing your mind, body, and spirit. Your nurse will be the primary caregiver for you and your baby. They ensure you receive your medications as prescribed, monitor your heart rate, check your blood pressure, and make sure everything is going smoothly. If you need something, your nurse is just a touch of a button away. You'll have registered nurses (RNs) on your team at the Family Birth Center. RNs hold degrees in nursing from an accredited university and are licensed by the State of Hawaii.
Audiologists and Audiologist Technicians
Audiologists are hearing specialists with a doctorate or PhD in Audiology from an accredited university. They are board certified by the American Board of Audiology and licensed by the State of Hawaii. Most babies can hear well at birth, but some do not. Our audiologist technicians on staff will test your baby's hearing, most likely before you leave the Family Birth Center. You'll know the results of the test immediately. A licensed audiologist will contact you to schedule an appointment if your baby needs his or her first screening or further testing.
Lab Technicians
While you are here at the Family Birth Center, there are several lab tests that might be required to ensure you and your baby stay healthy. Either your nurse or one of our lab technicians will take blood samples for the lab tests.
Room Service Attendants, Chefs, and Dietitians
Freshly cooked, nutritious fare from our chef is made to order and delivered to your room by our friendly staff. Freshly cooked, nutritious fare from our chef is made to order and delivered to your room by our friendly staff. You can order from our full menu from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily and we'll deliver it to your room whenever you are ready. Behind each meal is a culinary team dedicated to your health. Our chefs create delicious dishes using ingredients and menus carefully chosen by our registered dietitians. Rest assured that the delicious meal that you are enjoying is also healthy. Doesn't that make every bite better?
Security
At Kaiser Permanente's Family Birth Center, the safety and well-being of you and your baby are our top priority. To ensure your safety, we have a full-time staff of security professionals on site and on watch 24 hours a day. Security isn't limited to our security professionals. Everyone at the Moanalua Medical Center is focused on your baby's well-being. That starts with keeping moms and babies together whenever possible from sleeping to check-ups.
Record Technicians
Record technicians make sure you spend as little time as possible on paperwork so that you can enjoy your time with your new baby. Our records technicians will help you with documents and filing the paperwork for the official State of Hawaii Certificate of Birth.
Pharmacists
Your pharmacists, whether at the Moanalua Medical Center or at your home clinic, play an active role in your health and your baby's health. Your pharmacists, whether at the Moanalua Medical Center or at your home clinic, play an active role in your health and your baby's health. Working alongside physicians and Family Birth Center staff, they provide information and recommend treatment programs to keep you well and to make you feel better when you are sick.
Specialists
Perinatalogists
Perinatalogists are doctors who specialize in caring for mom and baby during high-risk pregnancies. Perinatologists are trained in obstetrics with additional training in maternal-fetal medicine. Our perinatologists are available 24 hours a day at the Family Birth Center in case issues arise before or during labor.
Neonatologists
Neonatologists are medical doctors that specialize in the care of sick newborns. At the Family Birth Center, our Neonatal team is on-site 24 hours a day, should your baby need special care.
Breastfeeding Consultants
At Kaiser Permanente, we support and encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies. Breast milk provides the best nutrition and it offers many health benefits for moms, too. To support our breastfeeding mothers, our certified lactation consultants can help you with breastfeeding concerns during pregnancy, while you are in the hospital and when you return home. While at the Family Birth Center, your lactation specialist will help you with your first days of breastfeeding. Our Lactation Center, located at Mapunapuna Medical Office, provides the support and information you need for longer-term breastfeeding success.
If you have questions about breastfeeding, you can call the Lactation Center at 808-432-8518 to speak with a certified lactation consultant.
Your Baby's Physician
Your baby will have at least two physicians: a pediatrician at the Family Birth Center and your baby's personal physician, who will care for your baby through regular appointments after you leave the hospital.
At the Family Birth Center
After your baby is born, you will meet your baby's Family Birth Center pediatrician, who will ensure your baby is healthy and ready to go home.
At your Home Clinic
Great care doesn't stop when you leave the Family Birth Center. Your baby will continue to get the best possible care through regular appointments with a pediatrician or family medicine physician of your choice. Your baby's pediatrician or family medicine physician will be seamlessly connected to your baby's records from the Family Birth Center and will guide you through the necessary screening tests and immunizations, and will check that your baby is meeting important developmental milestones.