HR256.DOC

WHEREAS, the spirit of giving has long been a fundamental part of Hawaii's culture; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii residents have continued in this tradition of generosity by choosing to help many local residents who are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant; and

WHEREAS, organ donation is the gift of a kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, or other vital organ for medical transplantation to others in serious need; and

WHEREAS, organ transplantation is regarded as a standard medical treatment for a number of medical conditions and diseases, including chronic kidney disease, and thousands of individuals receive life-saving organ transplants each year; and

WHEREAS, survival rates following an organ transplant are impressive - for instance, the one-year survival rate for kidney transplant recipients is almost 96 percent, for heart recipients, over 82 percent, and for liver recipients, more than 80 percent; and

WHEREAS, despite the growing number of successful transplant operations each year, more than 100,000 people nationwide remain on the waiting list for an organ, and in Hawaii, approximately 395 seriously-ill people of all ethnic groups are waiting for a liver, kidney, or pancreas transplant; and

WHEREAS, nationwide, approximately 16 people in need of an organ transplant die every day, and in 2008, 16 people died in Hawaii while on the organ transplant waitlist; and

WHEREAS, the majority of transplant candidates on the transplant waiting list in Hawaii are awaiting a donor kidney, and the majority of the transplant operations performed in Hawaii are kidney transplants; and

WHEREAS, one person's donated vital organs can save the lives of up to seven other people who need an organ transplant; and

WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation's mission is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs and tissue for transplantation in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, persons may easily register to become organ donors by registering on the Donate Life Hawaii website, www.donatelifehawaii.com; and

WHEREAS, the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii is the only federally-designated, private, nonprofit, charitable organization authorized to recover organs and tissue for transplant in the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii has coordinated efforts to procure organ and tissue donations and find appropriate recipients for the donations, a process that includes:

(1) Evaluating potential donors;

(2) Presenting the option of donation to families;

(3) Providing medical management to donors; and
(4) Placing organs according to nationally-established criteria;

and

WHEREAS, Fresenius Medical Care's dialysis services entity, Fresenius Medical Services, operates 1,700 outpatient dialysis clinics nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Fresenius Medical Services is dedicated to providing the highest quality standards in dialysis care and products in the industry to meet the needs of patients and affiliated physicians; and

WHEREAS, Fresenius Medical Services - Renal Therapy Group is responsible for the manufacture and distribution of a variety of dialysis products and equipment, including dialysis machines, dialyzers, and other dialysis-related supplies; and

WHEREAS, Liberty Dialysis works closely with nonprofit organizations to provide an outstanding level of care for patients with kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, Liberty Dialysis has a history of developing clinics in underserved communities in conjunction with local physicians and nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, Liberty Dialysis has dialysis facilities on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Oahu; and

WHEREAS, March 11, 2010, is World Kidney Day, organized to raise awareness of kidney disease prevention, promote preventative behavior, and encourage screenings for diabetes and hypertension, both of which contribute to chronic kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, since its inception, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii has steadfastly executed its vision to serve the unique needs of its clients; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii began with a small outpatient facility offering pathology services to a few Big Island hospitals; and

WHEREAS, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii has over 900 professional, technical, and support personnel, with expertise in a wide variety of laboratory procedures; and

WHEREAS, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii has grown to become the state's leading diagnostic laboratory provider, servicing 14 out of the 24 civilian acute care hospitals in Hawaii, and operating over 55 outpatient service centers throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Ohana Health Plan is a health plan offered by WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Ohana Health Plan has more than 20 years of health care experience; and

WHEREAS, Ohana Health Plan strives to enhance the overall health and quality of life for its members; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that this body hereby commends and congratulates the National Kidney Foundation, Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, Fresenius Medical Services, Liberty Dialysis, Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, and Ohana Health Plan, and extends its best wishes for success to these important organizations as they continue in their efforts to raise awareness about kidney disease and organ donation throughout the State of Hawaii.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Organ Donation and Kidney Disease

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	256
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII