HR64

WHEREAS, increased health care costs have made home health care a viable and desirable option for many individuals with acute or long-term care needs and is often a better alternative to traditional care, such as hospitalization or placement in a nursing facility; and

WHEREAS, it has been found that home care allows patients to recover more quickly, promotes family independence, is generally less costly than a hospital or skilled nursing facility, and is the preferred choice of individuals needing care, and their families; and

WHEREAS, new medical technologies and specialized services are increasingly available through home care providers, including case management, social worker services, patient and family education, respite care, live-in care, transportation, home infusion pharmacy, and laboratory and nutritional counseling; and

WHEREAS, the agencies and individuals who offer home health care are highly skilled professionals who provide a valuable service to our community and help maintain the highest level of health and comfort for all ages and conditions at home; and

WHEREAS, ROSE ANN POYZER is a home health care pioneer and advocate who has mentored, inspired, and encouraged the growth of other home care providers and programs, and

WHEREAS, ROSE ANN POYZER was one of the first lay administrators of home health care and served as executive director of the Hawaii Association for Home Care and vice-president of the Home Care and Hospice division of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, having retired from the Health Care Association of Hawaii, ROSE ANN POYZER continues to actively promote home health care and is tireless in her efforts to encourage home health care as an option; and

WHEREAS, WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL's Home Health Agency is recognized as one of the nation's most successful home health care agencies and is the only home health care agency in Hawaii to be named to the prestigious 2007 HomeCare Elite list; and

WHEREAS, HomeCare Elite is a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health providers in the United States and identifies the top 25% of home health care agencies in the nation, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement, and financial performance; and

WHEREAS, inclusion on the 2007 HomeCare Elite list in a very competitive environment is an indication of WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL's dedication to quality and performance; and

WHEREAS, WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL's Home Health Agency consists of a seven-person team, including manager Lauralee Kawamata, staff member Katrina Dick, social worker Bernadette Cabilao, physical therapist Jan Ching, registered nurse Jean Lim, coordinator Thelma Manuel, and occupational therapist AnnaBlair Publow; and

WHEREAS, WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL's Home Health Agency RN manager LAURALEE KAWAMATA is an excellent example of a nursing professional who is dedicated to serving others, committed to providing quality and compassionate home health care in our community, and can be credited with much of the success of WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL's Home Health Agency; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that this body hereby commends ROSE ANN POYZER

and LAURALEE KAWAMATA for their invaluable contributions to home health care in Hawaii, and recognizes WAHIAWA GENERAL HOSPITAL Home Health Agency's exceptional ranking as a 2007 HomeCare Elite home care provider.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Recognizing the Value of Home Health Care in our Community

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	64
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII