HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0083.012 2012-2014 J.Yoshimoto,Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council
January 23, 2013
Hawaii County Council-Hilo Office
Support of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training
Program- Resolution 41-13
Aloha Chairman Yoshimoto and members of the Hawaii County Council.
My name is Lori Rogers and I am the Executive Director for the Hilo Medical Center
Foundation.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony in support of Resolution No.
41-13 urging the Hawaii State Legislature to appropriate Funds to the Department
of Health for the Rural Residency Program, now known as Hawaii Health Systems
Corporation Primary Care Training Program.
Myself and Foundation Board members have volunteered since 2008 with
grassroots organizations such as the Community Healthcare Action Task Force (or
CHAT) and Hawaii Island Healthcare Alliance (HIHA) both established by people
who live on the island to support and advocate for the Residency Program. Soon
after its organization in 2008, CHAT began its task of educating its members of the
possible causes to our Healthcare crisis. Meetings and interviews with key members
of the health care industry in Hawaii found that one of the top problem areas is a
physician shortage on the islands. Statistics have shown that most young physicians
end up practicing in or near communities where they did their residency.The
HHSCPCTP and family medicine graduate education is a positive step toward
increasing the number of primary care physicians in rural areas of our state.
State funding of the HHSC Primary Care Training Program is critically needed now
to ensure the program is sustained through its accreditation process. Rural
communities need more primary care doctors and this training program will
provide that,through a team approach that will allow one physician and their team
to care for up to 10,000 patients.
The Foundation's plea for assistance with funding to establishing the HHSC Primary
Care Training Program is not based on a study, it comes from hearing heart
wrenching stories from individuals in our community who have not been able to
secure a primary physician. Hilo Medical Center has taken on the challenge and
responsibility to get this HHSC Primary Care Training Program accredited, and the
Foundation supports that effort.
I humbly ask for your support of a resolution for the HHSC Primary Care Training
Program that will benefit not only Hawaii County,but also the entire state of Hawaii.
Thank you.
Lori Rogers Comm. No. $3.1 L
Executive Director, Hilo Medical Center Foundation Ref. To: i
Ref. Dote JA 2