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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 216 Draft 01 1996-1998 .--- . . COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 216 98 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A RURAL HEALTH PLAN FOR THE DISTRICTS OF PUNA AND KA'U. WHEREAS, the districts of Puna and Ka'u, encompassing approximately 1,508 square miles and over fifteen dispersed communities, are host to a population of 25,000 residents; and WHEREAS, a study consisting oftwenty-eight distinct communities throughout the State was conducted by the Department of Health; and WHEREAS, according to this study, entitled "Primary Care Needs Assessment". February 1996. the service areas of Puna and Ka'u ranked first and second, respectively, as the highest risk areas throughout the State in terms of health and socio-economic risk; and WHEREAS, statewide ranking of twenty-eight primary care service areas show that Puna is the highest risk area in terms of socio-economic risk indicators such as the percentage of the population below poverty, the percentage of the population aged sixty-five years and over, the unemployment rate and the percentage of households on public assistance, and the service area of Ka'u ranks third'in the same category; and WHEREAS, a statewide ranking of twenty-eight primary care service areas shows that Ka'u is the highest risk area in terms of maternal and child health risk indicators, such as infant mortality, inadequate prenatal care, low birth weight births, reported medical risk births, and teen births; the service area of Puna ranks fourth in the same category; and WHEREAS, these results indicate inadequate medicaL~', services within these communities and exemplify the need for medical care in Puna and Ka'u; and WHEREAS, the majority of Puna and Ka'u residents are located between thirty and sixty miles away from an adequate emergency medical facility; and WHEREAS, only a handful of physicians through limited health care facilities provide much needed medical care and services for these 25,000 residents; and WHEREAS, examples of medical conditions treated by these physicians include, but are not limited to, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, accidental injuries, obstetrics/gynecological difficulties as well as circulatory, mental health, and substance abuse problems; and . . . WHEREAS, it is crucial that facilities appropriate for emergency care, x-ray services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and prenatal care be immediately provided to these communities; and WHEREAS, a 'rural health plan' collaboratively compiled through existing data, medical personnel and community input, will ensure the improvement of health facilities and make available sufficient medical services to all residents within the districts of Puna and Ka'u. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HA WAIl that it urges the funding and implementation of a 'rural health plan' by the 1998 Legislature. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to The Honorable Senator Andrew Levin; The Honorable Senator Wayne Metcalf; The Honorable Senator Malama Solomon; The Honorable Representative Robert Herkes; The Honorable Representative Eric Hamakawa; The Honorable Representative David Tamas; The Honorable Representative Paul Whalen; The Honorable Representative Jerry Chang; The Honorable Representative Dwight Takamine; June Kunimoto, Hawaii District Health Services Administrator, Department of Health; Charlene Gaspar, Department of l!ealth, Family Health Services; Stephanie Launiu, Executive Director, Bay Clinic; Dr. Margaret Kitazawa, Ka'u Medical Center; Lawrence Miike, Director, Department of Health. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 16th day of Janua:ry 1998. INTRODUCED BY: ~~~~ COUNCILMEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII -./ COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii ROLL CALL VOTE ATTEST: AYES NOES ADS EX ARAKAKI X CHUNG X LEITHEAD-TODD X RAY X REYNOLDS X SANTANGELO X SMITH X TYLER X YAGONG X 9 0 0 0 nee l,;- bbb . . .. " Refere " ar6: 98, I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Bawail on Januarv 16. 1998 ~ COUNTY CLERK ",' 'cHAlRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.- " .