HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0569.010 2002-2004 4- 5-04p 4:t3PM; SHPDA :BOB 587 0783 # 2/ 3
LINDA LINGLE
[8 Or ~4N. GOVERNOR OF HAWAII
CHIVOME L FUKINO, M.D.
° Rf' ~9' STATE HEALTH PLANNING
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY DAVIb T. SAKAMOTO, M.D.. M.B.A.
ADMINISTRATOR
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1177 Alakea SL N402, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: 587-0788 Faz: 587-0763 wwwshpda.org
April 5, 2004
County Council / p- FL
To Members of Hawaii County Council:
The State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) and its Hawaii
County Subarea Health Planning Council (SAC) strongly support the proposed
enhancement to the Hawaii County transportation system.
The Hawaii County Subarea Health Planning Council (SAC) focuses on improving
the health status of the island's residents. The SAC's health planning process
highlighted that the lack of access to health services and providers was a major
sasue for many Hawaii residents. In Hawaii County access to care is closely tied
to improvements and expansions in the transportation system that can bring
people to the health services they need. The lack of transportation is a major
barrier to people accessing needed health care services. Without adequate
transportation services, people go without health care services, delay getting
needed services, rely on family members who may have to take time off work to
drive them to care and often incur higher health care costs because they do not
get appropriate preventive and primary care to address their problems early,
waiting until the health problem has to be dealt with in a more intensive way.
In 2001 SHPDA's Hawaii County Subarea Health Planning Council developed a
project to study access issues to behavioral health services and facilities on the
Big Island by focusing on transportation needs of these patients and clients.
At the outset, the Subarea Council created a partnership of key stakeholders
involved in health and transportation issues. Partners included: the County's
Mass Transit Agency, the County's Office on Aging, the County's Department of
Research and Development, and the University of Hawaii's Department of Urban
and Regional Planning. During the course of the project a detailed assessment
was completed and a community conference held. They conducted surveys and
interviews of stakeholders from the transportation field, health providers, mental
health providers and social services providers to identify the nature and extent of
the need for transportation for the behavioral health population. They conducted
8 community forums around the Big Island to gather community perceptions of
Comm. No. S O
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o: Hawaii County Council Members
ax: 981-8912 Tel: 961-8272
gym: David Sakamoto, MD
el: 587-0788 Date: April 5, 2004
Message:
We would like to submit this testimony in support of the transportation proposal
being considered at the County Council meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2004
Thank you for your consideration.
If you experience difficulties receiving this transmission or ff you have received
this transmission in error, please notify us immediately at 808-587-0788. Thank
you.
a- 5-04; 4:t3PM;SHPDA ;808 58] 083 u 3i 3
the problem and collect input from community members about seeking
behavioral health and general health treatment.
he study found that barriers to seeking behavioral health services and
treatment included lack of access to transportation and lack of information about
both available behavioral health care services and existing transportation
services. The results of the study and all of the input from the community forums
i were brought together at an action planning conference in April 2003. The
conference included over 50 participants from transportation programs, health
and social service providers, universities, county government and community
members.
There is broad agreement throughout Hawaii County on the need for improved
and increased transportation services and the importance of public transportation
in improving access to health services. We ask for your support in improving
access to transportation in Hawaii County.
Respectfully,
~ ~ ~
David Sakamoto, M.D.
Administrator
State Health Planning & Development Agency