Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 123 entitled:

beg 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 submit to the Legislature a second report on its efforts to reduce medical errors.

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

Your Committees find that medical errors result in numerous injuries and fatalities every year. Every effort must be made by the health care industry to enhance patient safety by reducing and eliminating these medical errors. Your Committees recognize and applaud the ongoing efforts of the Patient Safety Task Force (Task Force) of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. In its recent report submitted to the Legislature, the Task Force documented its past efforts and future plans to improve patient safety, including a proposal to develop a medical error reporting system. However, your Committees believe that the Legislature must continue to monitor the progress of the Task Force and the implementation of its recommendations by Hawaii's health care industry to ensure medical error reduction continues to be a priority.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 123 and recommend its adoption.