Newborn Care in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

Newborn care covers the check-ups and support a baby needs in the first weeks of life, when growth, feeding, and bonding are all getting established. It is a joyful, tiring, question-filled time, and you do not have to navigate it alone. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we walk alongside new ʻohana from the very beginning.

The first visits

Newborns are seen soon after birth and frequently in the early weeks, following the Bright Futures and American Academy of Pediatrics schedule. At these visits we check weight gain and growth, feeding, jaundice, the healing umbilical cord, reflexes, and development, and we make sure newborn screening and any needed vaccines are on track. These early, frequent visits catch small issues before they become big ones.

Feeding, sleep, and safety

We support whatever feeding path works for your family, whether breastfeeding, formula, or both, and help troubleshoot common struggles. We review safe sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS (baby on the back, on a firm flat surface, with nothing soft in the crib), and we talk through soothing, diapering, bathing, and the normal patterns of a newborn so you know what to expect.

Caring for parents, too

A new baby is also a big transition for parents. We check in on how you are doing, including screening for postpartum depression and anxiety, because a parent’s wellbeing is part of a baby’s health. Because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, support is right here if you need it. Many newborn questions can be handled quickly by telehealth between visits.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole child, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your keiki and to raise them pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your family’s story, welcome your ʻohana into every visit, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects your family is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see your keiki

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo. Your child’s first primary-care visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see children in person for well-child exams, vaccines, and hands-on care, and we use telehealth for follow-ups and questions. Pediatric behavioral health with our mental-health providers can begin by video; care from our primary-care team starts with an in-office visit.

Common questions about newborn care

How soon and how often should my newborn be seen?

Newborns are typically seen within the first few days after going home and then frequently over the first weeks and months, following the Bright Futures/AAP schedule. These early visits track feeding, growth, jaundice, and development.

What is safe sleep for a newborn?

Place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat surface, in their own crib or bassinet with nothing soft inside. This greatly reduces the risk of SIDS. We are glad to go over safe sleep in detail.

Do you support new parents, not just the baby?

Yes. We check in on how parents are doing and screen for postpartum depression and anxiety. Because we integrate behavioral health, support is available right here if you need it.

What insurance do you accept for pediatric care?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics & Bright Futures. (2024). Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care (periodicity schedule). https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/care-delivery-approaches/periodicity-schedule/

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your child’s situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you are worried about your child’s health, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner