STAND. COM. REP. NO.3106

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 177

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 177 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING ALL ACCREDITED POST-SECONDARY MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN HAWAII TO OFFER COURSES IN PALLIATIVE CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage Hawaii post-secondary medical and healthcare education programs to offer courses in palliative care.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Executive Office on Aging, Hawai'i Nurses' Association, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and an advanced practice registered nurse.

Your Committee finds that palliative care for persons with serious or terminal illnesses has become a more critical issue within our healthcare system as a larger sector of our population ages. Your Committee further finds that palliative care involves not only pharmaceutical remedies, but may also include massage therapy and emotional and spiritual counseling. Your Committee notes that the Executive Office on Aging through it's Kokua Mau project has brought together public and private sector partners to develop curricula on end-of life care, including palliative care.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 177 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair