STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 113

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 113 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO ESTABLISH A STROKE SYSTEM OF CARE IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a task force to establish a stroke system of care in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and American Heart Association.

     Your Committee finds that stroke is the leading cause of chronic disability among adults in the State.  Rapid identification, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke can improve outcomes for stroke patients.  Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not presently have an adequate and effective system of statewide stroke care that emphasizes rapid assessment and triage of stroke patients.  Your Committee further finds that in order to provide the best medical outcomes for Hawaii's stoke victims, it is necessary to request the Department of Health to convene a task force to establish a stroke system of care in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Expanding the membership of the task force to include a representative of Healthcare Association of Hawaii, who is to invite chief medical officers from all hospitals with emergency departments; a representative from the Hawaii Neurological Society; a representative from the American College of Emergency Physicians, Hawaii Chapter; and any additional stakeholders identified by the task force; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 113, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 113, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair