HB669 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	669
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

making an appropriation for university of hawaii healthcare workforce simulation resource laboratories.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that healthcare organizations take seriously their responsibility to deliver safe and competent care to patients and clients. Professions that have an inherent level of risk, such as the healthcare disciplines, are incorporating simulation as a means to train individuals and teams, and to help them learn new techniques and how to handle unanticipated and crisis situations without real life consequences.

The University of Hawaii nursing programs serve as a resource to aid the State's response to patient safety and nursing workforce demand. Simulation training favorably contributes to both of these outcomes by providing additional clinical experiences, expanding the teaching capacity for students, and preparing nurses through hands-on learning but without real life consequences. According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' September 2006 newsletter, simulation training can ensure patient safety in two ways:

(1) Allowing clinicians to gain experience with a wide range of specific scenarios, without necessitating that they practice on patients; and

(2) Helping staff to improve their skills and thereby providing their real-life patients with safer, higher-quality care.

Simulation training ranges from basic skills building, to the use of trained actors playing patients, to full-blown enactments of specific clinical scenarios such as a particularly difficult surgery, complete with electronic mannequins that are programmed to act and react like actual human patients. Dedicated simulation centers provide a wider range of simulated scenarios because the areas are designed to allow training to be recorded and reviewed more comprehensively, with simulation equipment already in place.

The legislature further finds that simulation training is a valuable tool when used in conjunction with classroom and clinical education. Simulation training can also offer a series of challenging simulated scenarios to provide effective continuing education for healthcare professionals and educate multidisciplinary groups such as medical emergency teams or disaster-preparedness response teams. Finally, simulation can be used to certify the competency of the existing workforce.

The legislature recognizes that the operation of a clinical simulation laboratory by the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene has been embraced by faculty, students, and employers alike, and has resulted in improved learning outcomes that ultimately enhance patient safety. As such, the initial expenses associated with simulation are outweighed by the benefits to patients.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a dedicated network of healthcare workforce simulation resource laboratories on the islands of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii, and Oahu for cross-disciplinary workforce education and training to improve communication, outcomes, and patient safety. Once established, the laboratories will serve as the community focal point for nurse, physician, emergency response, and other healthcare worker training and competency certification. Operating and staffing costs will be funded through contracts and fees.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii to:

(1) Establish a network of healthcare workforce simulation resource laboratories at Kauai community college, Maui community college, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, jointly used and operated by the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the Hawaii community college; and

(2) Expand the simulation laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to be used in conjunction with Kapiolani community college.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.