2018-02-14 Letter to Sylvia Luke re HB 1616, HD 1 Relating to Health [Puna Ambulance]

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Harry Kim Itiayor Oinuttfil Offirrtr Wil Okabe Alciiniging Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Alunaging 1)trector 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • HIo, Hawai`i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokaliole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair Committee on Finance Hawaii State Capitol, Room 308 Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Luke and Committee Members: Re: HB 1616, HD 1, Relating Hearing Date: 02/16/18 February 14, 2018 to Health [Puna Ambulance] — 4:00 pm; House Conference Room 308 I strongly support H 1616, HI 1. be of tremendous value, and there is little excellent job of laying out the case. A new ambulance for the Puna District of the Big Island would I can add to the preamble of HB 1616, HD 1 which does an "The district of Puna is the fastest growing district in the State; and thus, has increasing calls for emergency medical services. Currently, the high demand for Puna emergency services means Hilo ambulances need to travel to Puna for emergency calls. Hilo ambulances someti es need to travel over thirty lles with some of those miles on substandard unpaved roads, Every Hilo ambulance that responds to a Puna emergency means one less ambulance available for Hilo, the second largest city in the State; and thus, an ambulance based in Puna not only benefits Puna, but also benefits the rest of East Hawail Island." It "takes an average round-trip of almost two hours to respond to each Puna emergency cal. Emergency calls from Puna have increased to over five thousand calls per year. It is common for paramedics to have over ten transports in each work shift, which equates to twenty or more hours for each twenty-four hour shift. Because of this increase in calls, Hilo paramedic units, which are the busiest on the island, are often dispatched into the Puna district to cover the area when the una paramedic units are responding to other calls. This results in fewer Hilo paramedic units being available to respond to Hilo emergency calls. A new advanced life support ambulance will help reduce death and disability among residents and visitors alike. Please act favorably on H 1616, HD1. Mayor, County of Hawaii County o '1-1a\vai*i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer,