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tx°iWil Okabe <br /> u-..,.. .. Managing Director� <br /> Harry Kim : .'�� "";, I/�t• <br /> Mayor - =-rs's <br /> • • .0" • Barbara J.Kossow <br /> 'O;'AO.-' Deputy Managing Director <br /> Count of Rttftnn t <br /> ®ff rs of t!jr Augur <br /> zgur <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> March 10, 2017 <br /> Representative Justin Woodson <br /> Higher Education <br /> Hawai'i State Capitol <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear Chair Woodson and Members: <br /> RE: SB 141, SD2 <br /> Relating to Physician Workforce Assessment <br /> Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 141, SD2. <br /> Although healthcare is generally thought to be a "State" rather than a "County" issue, I have <br /> never seen it that way. In fact, in my first terms as Mayor, I declared healthcare to be a critical issue <br /> for Hawaii County, because it was clear that we had a worsening physician shortage and that <br /> healthcare on the neighbor islands was in a perilous position. <br /> Unfortunately, eight years later, and despite ongoing community efforts, the crisis continues. <br /> We want and need a Hawai'i Physician Workforce Assessment Program that does research on <br /> the supply and demand of physicians in Hawai'I, and also assists us in recruiting physicians and <br /> increasing career satisfaction of physicians already in practice. These actions are extremely important <br /> as we try to improve healthcare on the Big Island and throughout the State. <br /> Please act favorably on SB 141. <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> Harry Kim <br /> Mayor <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />