Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 190 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Patient Safety Task Force of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii to report to the Legislature on its efforts to reduce medical errors.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that deaths caused by medical errors are occurring at unacceptable annual rates. There must be additional vigilance in the provision of medical services to ensure the safety of patients and to reduce the number of tragic unnecessary deaths. Your Committee recognizes that the reduction of medical errors is not a simple task because of the complexity of health care organizations. Regardless, these medical errors need to be addressed directly and eliminated. With the creation of the Patient Safety Task Force, your Committee is optimistic that their work will improve the health and safety of the public. By requesting that they submit a progress report to the Legislature, this issue remains a priority and the public remains informed.

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 H.C.R. No. 190, and recommends its adoption.