STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3107

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 30
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 30 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII NURSES'
     ASSOCIATION AND THE HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII TO
     BEGIN DISCUSSIONS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS
     FOR ACUTE-CARE ISSUES RELATING TO PATIENT SAFETY, NURSING
     CARE, AND THE POTENTIAL NURSING SHORTAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the Hawaii Nurses'
Association (HNA) and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH)
to begin discussions to identify and solve acute-care issues
relating to patient safety, nursing care, and the potential
nursing shortage.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the HAH, HNA, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and
HGEA-AFSCME.

     This measure is intended to address many of the recent
issues relating to managed care and downsizing of hospital staff.
Your Committee's primary concern is for patient safety and
adequacy of care.  Your Committee prefers that patient care
procedures be left to hospitals and professional staff, however,
legislation may be necessary if the discussions do not yield
results.  The HNA and HAH are requested to report to the
Legislature before the 2001 Session on their discussions.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3107
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     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Suggesting that the public sector hospitals and the
          Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) also engage in
          similar discussions with one another;

     (2)  Requiring that the discussions identify the rate of
          medical errors, consider the possibility of
          establishing an adverse reporting system, and include
          representatives of the HNA, HAH, Hawaii Government
          Employees Association (HGEA), Hawaii Medical
          Association (HMA), and Hawaii Health Information
          Corporation (HHIC); and

     (3)  Requiring transmittal of this measure to the HHSC,
          HGEA, HMA, and HHIC.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 30, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 30, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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