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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0083.005 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 P)(Litt NI L CCIAm Murashige, Laura From: Aileen Jervis [AJervis @hhsc.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 10:46 AM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Hawaii County Council Meeting, Jan. 23, WH Civic Center- Resolution No. 41 13 Attachments: County Council - HHSCPCTP.doc Aloha, Attached is testimony for Resolution No. 41 13, from Howard Ainsley, East Hawaii Regional CEO, for tomorrow's Hawaii County Council Meeting in Kona. If there are any questions, please contact me at 932-3101. Mahalo! Aileen Jervis Private Secretary Hilo Medical Center 1190 Waianuenue Avenue Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Fyn aileenj@hhsc.org 808-932-3101 808-974-4746 - fax Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. Comm. No. Ref.To: Ref. Date JAN 2 3 2013 1/22/2013 J. Yoshimoto, Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council January 23,2013 West Hawaii Civic Center,Building A Resolution No. 41 13 Support of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program Howard N. Ainsley,East Hawaii Regional CEO As a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, East Hawaii Region, I resolve to strengthen the state's provider workforce through the HHSC Primary Care Training Program (HHSCPCTP). Support of this program and of family medicine graduate education will generate greater numbers of providers practicing throughout the islands. I endorse the HHSCPCTP as a Means of Closing the Provider Gap in Hawaii. Investing in training family practice residents in the neighbor islands is expected to yield a meaningful return on investment. • Increasing the number of family practice physicians is expected to decrease the number and rate of "potentially avoidable hospitalizations," which the state now pays for through both its Medicaid program and unreimbursed care by state's public hospital system, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. • In rural areas of the state the impact of the Residency Program and greater access to family medicine physicians is projected to have a profound impact on lowering the costs of treating expensive and debilitating conditions. For example, diabetes and coronary heart disease have reached epidemic proportions in Hawaii County compared to Oahu and other areas of the state where there is greater access to primary care. • The known economic multiplier effect of additional physicians in Hawaii means each additional physician is expected to generate 5 new jobs and new tax revenue. (Source: The Lewin Group). I recognize that the HHSCPCTP uses an advanced model of care delivery that eliminates the need to train or attract unrealistically high numbers of physicians. The current predominant model of care throughout the country involves one primary care physician caring for 2,000-2,500 individuals with a small staff, usually including a medical assistant and receptionist. The team model of care in which the HHSCPCTP is training Hawaii's future providers allows one physician and their team to care for up to 10,000 patients. Critical team components include a nurse practitioner or physician assistant and specialists in chronic disease management such as pharmacists, certified diabetes educators, behavioral health providers, licensed nurses, and well trained non-licensed staff. I recognize that it is well documented throughout the nation that physicians attending rural training programs are much more likely to practice in a rural area. More than half of residents trained at rural sites stay and practice in this setting after they completed their residency. The same can be expected for advanced practice nurses, psychologists, and clinical pharmacists. I recognize that a more robust primary care base will attract physicians in other needed specialties to the islands as they will be guaranteed appropriate referrals. The opportunity to teach residents and other health professions students on the outer islands will also attract physicians who might otherwise not stay or come to Hawaii. I strongly urge your support of a resolution for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program.