HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0235.002 2008-2010
COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE ACTION TASKFORCE
(CHAT)
April 7, 2009
Chairman Yoshimoto and Members of the Hawaii County Council
Subject: Communication 235 - Request for Financial Support Towards the Rural
Family Practice Residency Program
Aloha Chairman Yoshimoto and members of the Hawaii County Council,
Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony in support of Communication 235.
My name is Leonard Tanaka and I am the Chairman for a volunteer grassroots
organization called the Community Healthcare Action Task Force (or CHAT)
established to support and advocate for a hospital and community health care system that
delivers quality and appropriate health services to the island of Hawaii.
CHAT was originally organized in 2008 to identify and respond to the much-publicized
hospital and health care crisis in Hawaii County and the State of Hawaii.
Team members consist of representatives from the business sector, public and private
agencies, and the community at large. A few of the represented organizations are: Hawaii
Island Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii,
Hilo Medical Center Foundation and Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association. Individual
members include: Mr. Delbert Nishimoto, Hawaii Island Liason for U.S. Senator Daniel
Inouye and Mr. Romel Dela Cruz, former Administrator of Hale Ho'ola Hamakua and
Assistant Administrator of Hilo Medical Center.
Soon after its organization, CHAT began its task of educating its members of the possible
causes to our Healthcare crisis. Meetings and interviews were held with healthcare
stakeholders including hospital CEO's, physicians, union representatives, health
insurance providers HHSC Corporate Board members and HHSC Regional Board
members. The overwhelming reply was consistent that the top 3 problem areas were:
1- Physician Shortage
2- High Operating Costs
3- Low Health Insurance Reimbursements
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CHAT decided to support the Hilo Medical Center Foundation in its efforts to start a
capital campaign to raise funds for Hilo's Rural Family Practice Residency Program
given the fact that the Governor withheld the release of funding for the program. Our goal
is to raise $1.5 million over the next 3 years, of which $50,000 would be due by the end
of June of this year.
The Program facility is located at 45 Mohouli Street in Hilo and is near completion of its
construction phase and will be ready for operations in the next few weeks.
The Rural Family Practice Residency Program is the best solution to attract, train and
retain physicians and other medical professionals on a perpetual basis on Hawaii Island.
Statistics have shown that most young physicians end up practicing in or near
communities where they did their residency. Each year after the Program's fruition, 6
physicians will graduate and 6 new physicians will enter into the program. This is and
ideal opportunity to solve our Physician Shortage for all districts of the Island.
While we understand the fiscal challenges that our Nation, State and County governments
face, CHAT, along with the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, continues to seek private
and public funding for this crucial program to succeed.
We humbly ask for your support in Communication 235 in requesting for financial
support towards the Rural Family Practice Residency Program that will benefit the entire
Hawaii Island.
Sincerely,
Leonard S. Tanaka
Chairman, Community Healthcare Action Taskforce