Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 3158 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $60,000 for two vehicles for patient and other transport uses for Lanai Community Hospital, which is part of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Administrator of Lanai Community Hospital and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Lanai Community Hospital has served both long-term care and acute care patients since it was designated and certified as a Critical Access Hospital with a 24/7 fully-functioning emergency room. Fulfilling the hospital's mission often requires arranging transportation for visiting or consulting medical and nursing staff, picking up and delivering lab specimens and medical supplies, and, on occasion, providing for patient transport, especially for patients who are wheelchair bound.

Your Committee further finds that Lanai Community Hospital uses twenty-year-old vehicles - a passenger car, and a van that has been converted to haul cargo. Because of the deteriorating state of these vehicles, hospital staff members often use their own vehicles for hospital business, which is an unacceptable practice.

Your Committee agrees that Lanai Community Hospital needs two new, properly equipped vans to provide the appropriate level of quality patient care and conduct daily operations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3158 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.