STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1098-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.C.R. No. 141

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 141 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN TO MITIGATE IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE CRITICAL SHORTAGES OF PHYSICIANS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), as part of its continuing physician workforce assessment, develop an action plan detailing specific goals, activities, and measurement outcomes to mitigate the anticipated shortfall of physicians in the State of Hawaii for both the short-term, and long-term. JABSOM will include or take into account the following as part of this action plan:

(1) Collaboration with the Chief Executive Officers and administrations of all hospitals operating in the State of Hawaii, with particular focus on those which already partner with JABSOM to provide residency training for JABSOM graduates; and

(2) Examination of the capacity of JABSOM facilities to determine whether class sizes may be expanded to increase the number of graduates and maximize the use of these facilities; and

(3) Address the sustainability of the family practice residency programs at Wahiawa General Hospital and its impact on JABSOM’s accreditation while the family practice residency program is fully operational at Hilo Medical Center; and

(4) Include the action plan as part of its updated physician workforce assessment required pursuant to Act 18, SSLH 2009 to be transmitted to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015.  

The John A. Burns School of Medicine and one individual testified in support of this measure.

     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 H.C.R. No. 141 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair