Report Title:

Molokai General Hospital; X-ray Unit; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates moneys for fiscal year 2008-2009 to purpose an x‑ray unit for Molokai general hospital.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2515
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to molokai general hospital.

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

     SECTION 1.  Molokai General Hospital is a critical access hospital and the only hospital on the island of Molokai, serving a population of approximately seven thousand five hundred residents and all visitors.  The hospital is a fifteen-bed facility and represents the only twenty-four hour emergency services, acute medical and pediatric inpatient care, midwifery (obstetrical) care, radiology, CT scan, laboratory, and respiratory therapy services on Molokai.

     In addition, it provides mammography and ultrasound, comprehensive physical therapy services, family planning, hospice-comfort care, and specialty clinics including endoscopic procedures.  Molokai General Hospital's rural health clinic is one of only five sites in Hawaii (and the only one on Molokai) with a program certified by the American Diabetes Association for diabetes care management.  The rural health clinic also houses the only chemotherapy services on Molokai, an almost four-year-old program that has greatly eased the psychological and financial burden of cancer in this community.

     Although Molokai General Hospital is not a state hospital, it receives a monthly subsidy from the State as a community hospital.  Molokai General Hospital also receives substantial financial and management support as a subsidiary of The Queen's Health Systems.

     Molokai General Hospital has identified a need for a new x‑ray unit.  The present x-ray unit is almost fourteen years old, and in terms of advances in technology during that period, it is ancient.  A modern x-ray unit for Molokai General Hospital would:

     (1)  Reduce the amount of developing chemicals used in processing;

     (2)  Provide more detailed images especially of obese patients;

     (3)  Improve the overall quality of images;

     (4)  Digitally send images for reading in a more timely manner, resulting in more accurate and better information for physicians and enabling them to provide the best possible patient diagnosis and the best possible outcomes; and

     (5)  Greatly reduce time the unit is not in service, which is imperative as the only 24-7 radiology service on the island.

     For these reasons, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate $400,000 for the purchase of an x-ray unit for Molokai General Hospital.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to purchase an x-ray unit for Molokai General Hospital.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:

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