Robin L Seto, MD
I speak: English
My gender: Female
Where I practice
- Emergency service
- Urgent care services
- After-hours services
- Pharmacy services
- No emergency services
- No urgent care services
- No after-hours services
- No pharmacy services
About me
Although both of my parents grew up in Hawaii, I was born and raised on the East Coast, as my father began his medical education and career as a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University. I enjoyed watching him work in his research lab, in the lecture halls, and at dinner parties at our home surrounded by medical students and residents. He suggested I enter Smith College as a pre-medical music major, believing this would address my dual interests in science and music. After 20 years, my parents decided to return “home” to Hawaii. In 1986, my husband and I moved to Kona, and we are thankful for the deep connections we developed in the mauka community of South Kona.
About my practice
During medical school at the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, I met my husband, who was an internal medicine resident. He was to become my inspiration and mentor in internal medicine during medical school, residency, and our subsequent 20-year private practice in Kona. Although appreciative of the experiences gained in private practice, I was grateful for the opportunity to join Hawaii Permanente Medical Group at Kona in 2004.
My philosophy of care is based on the principles of palliative care. Palliative care is the comprehensive care of those living with advanced incurable diseases or facing critical illnesses, for which the goal is to achieve the best possible quality of life through the relief of suffering. Its principles include respect for an individual’s values and beliefs, and care based on a bio-psychosocial and spiritual health model.
As a physician, I have the opportunity to view the world through the eyes of my patients. When I enter their world, I focus on listening and identifying with their concerns before presenting any recommendations. I find comfort, strength, and inspiration as I witness the dreams, tears, and joys of everyday people facing the challenges and struggles of their lives.
How I thrive
I believe that wellness is a lifelong journey to achieve the best state of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Wellness involves exercising, eating heart-healthy foods, learning how to manage your thoughts and feelings and staying connected to people. I try to balance home and work responsibilities, and focus on what is important instead of what is beyond my capabilities at that particular time. My goal is to stay mindful of the unexpected moments in life, both good and bad, find contentment in my personal and professional lives, and maintain my passion for my children and music.
My office
Referral requirements
You don't need a referral to see this provider.Languages spoken by medical staff
Help is available in your language. Learn more.
Medical groups & plans
Hawaii Permanente Medical Group
- HMO
- Medicaid (QUEST)
- Senior Advantage
Contact information
- 24-hour prescription refill
- 808-643-7979
- 24/7 Advice
- 1-833-833-3333 (toll free)
- Appointment cancellations
- 1-833-833-3333 (toll free)
- Behavioral Health Services
- 808-432-7600
- Information and appointments
- 1-833-833-3333 (toll free)
- Member Services
- 1-800-966-5955 (toll free)
- Pharmacy
- 808-643-7979
My training, certifications & licensing
Medical school
University of Hawaii John A Burns School of MedicineBoard certification
Geriatric Medicine
American Board of Internal MedicineHospice and Palliative Medicine
American Board of Internal MedicineInternal Medicine
American Board of Internal MedicineTo verify board certification for an individual practitioner, please visit the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, or the American Osteopathic Association websites.
Medical training
Internship
Internal Medicine
University of Hawaii John A Burns School of MedicineResidency
Internal Medicine
University of Hawaii John A Burns School of MedicineJoined Permanente Medical Group
2004Provider ID
7076My hospitals
This information is not available at this time.
To find:
- a provider’s office hours, search our facility directory
- providers in your plan or accepting new patients, call 1-800-966-5955 (toll free) or 711 (TTY for the hearing/speech impaired)
The information in this online directory is updated at least monthly. The availability of physicians, hospitals, providers, and services may change. To report an error, please call 1-800-966-5955 or email us.
Medicare Members: To request a hard copy of Kaiser Permanente’s provider directory, please call our Member Services department at 1-800-805-2739, seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Kaiser Permanente will mail a hard copy of the provider directory to you within three (3) business days of your request. Kaiser Permanente may ask whether your request for a hard copy is a one-time request or if you are requesting to receive the provider directory in hard copy permanently.
If you request it, your request for hard copies of the provider directory remains until you leave Kaiser Permanente or request that hard copies be discontinued.
Kaiser Permanente works together with participating providers to ensure all cultural competence obligations are met. We are dedicated to ensuring that services are provided in a culturally competent manner to all members, including those with limited English proficiency and reading skills; as well as those with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities
Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing accessible facilities, services, and programs for all members, visitors and individuals with disabilities. In compliance with federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability, Kaiser Permanente provides:
- accessible exam rooms and medical equipment;
- free auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision, cognitive, and/or communication-related disabilities, including qualified sign language interpreter services and informational materials in alternative formats (large print, audio tape/CDs, accessible PDFs or Microsoft Word documents, electronic texts/disks/CD-ROMS, and Braille); and
- access to service animals, except where the animal poses a significant health or safety risk(s) to others.
For more information about access to a specific facility or provider, or if you believe that Kaiser Permanente has failed to provide appropriate access or services or otherwise discriminated on the basis of a disability, please contact Member Services toll-free 1-800-966-5955 or TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon. You may also contact or file a grievance with the Kaiser Permanente Civil Rights Coordinator in person, by mail, fax or email at: 711 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, civil-rights-coordinator@kp.org, or toll-free 1-800-966-5955, TTY 711.
The availability and use of the Kaiser Permanente grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights or the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.
Kaiser Permanente uses the same quality, member experience, or cost-related measures to select practitioners and facilities in Marketplace Silver-tier plans as it does for all other Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) products and lines of business and uses the same geographic distribution consideration to select hospitals in Marketplace plans as it does for all other Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) products and lines of business. The measures may include, but are not limited to, HEDIS/CAHPS performance, member/patient complaints, patient safety scores, hospital quality measures, and geographic need. Members enrolled in KFHP Marketplace plans have access to all professional, institutional and ancillary health care providers who participate in KFHP plans' contracted provider network, in accordance with the terms of the members' KFHP plan of coverage. All Kaiser Permanente Medical Group physicians and network physicians are subject to the same quality review processes and certifications.
A narrow network is defined as a tailored, tiered or high-performance network that has 80 percent or less overlap with a health plan’s broadest network offered to a member in any type of plan offered by that health plan. Kaiser Permanente does not have a narrow network with respect to its Marketplace plans. Members enrolled in Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) Marketplace plans have access to the same provider networks as members enrolled in all other KFHP plans.
Information about a practitioner is provided to us by the practitioner or is obtained as part of the credentialing process. If you would like more current information on a practitioner's license, call either the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Consumer Resource Center at (808) 587-3295 or visit their website, or call the Kaiser Permanente Customer Service Center at (808) 432-5955 (Oahu) or 1-800-966-5955 (toll free, neighbor islands). For the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, call 1-800-966-5955 or 711 (TTY).
This page was last updated on: 12/03/2024