HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-10 Letter to Justin Woodson re SB 141 SD2 - Relating to Physician Workforce Assessment tx°iWil Okabe
u-..,.. .. Managing Director�
Harry Kim : .'�� "";, I/�t•
Mayor - =-rs's
• • .0" • Barbara J.Kossow
'O;'AO.-' Deputy Managing Director
Count of Rttftnn t
®ff rs of t!jr Augur
zgur
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
March 10, 2017
Representative Justin Woodson
Higher Education
Hawai'i State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Woodson and Members:
RE: SB 141, SD2
Relating to Physician Workforce Assessment
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 141, SD2.
Although healthcare is generally thought to be a "State" rather than a "County" issue, I have
never seen it that way. In fact, in my first terms as Mayor, I declared healthcare to be a critical issue
for Hawaii County, because it was clear that we had a worsening physician shortage and that
healthcare on the neighbor islands was in a perilous position.
Unfortunately, eight years later, and despite ongoing community efforts, the crisis continues.
We want and need a Hawai'i Physician Workforce Assessment Program that does research on
the supply and demand of physicians in Hawai'I, and also assists us in recruiting physicians and
increasing career satisfaction of physicians already in practice. These actions are extremely important
as we try to improve healthcare on the Big Island and throughout the State.
Please act favorably on SB 141.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer