REPORT TITLE:
Geriatric Research; Appro.


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates $500,000 to the Hawaii Geriatric Research and
Training Center at Kula Hospital.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           122
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PLAN AND DEVELOP THE HAWAII GERIATRIC
   RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER AT KULA HOSPITAL.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a collaborative
 
 2 public-private effort is needed for the development of the Hawaii
 
 3 Geriatric Research and Training Center at Kula Hospital.  The
 
 4 Geriatric Center is concerned with biomedical, psychological, and
 
 5 sociological aspects of the aging patient.  The center will be
 
 6 engaged in collaborative research, training, rehabilitation, and
 
 7 care on the site of Kula Hospital.  The major objective of the
 
 8 center is to limit, and when possible, prevent the disabilities
 
 9 which so often accompany aging.  The center's research interests
 
10 include nutrition and aging, environmental innovations to support
 
11 more home care, holistic and alternative care programs, age-
 
12 related carbohydrate intolerance, geriatric psychology, androgens
 
13 and prostate enlargement, and age and obesity determinants of
 
14 hypertension.
 
15      In addition to research development, funding is necessary to
 
16 develop the center as a training site for both professional and
 
17 lay home care givers.  Professional groups will include medical
 
18 residents and geriatricians, nurse practitioners in geriatrics,
 
19 as well as licensed nurses and nurse assistants serving in
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           122
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 nursing homes, long-term care facilities, public health
 
 2 facilities, and in hospitals throughout Hawaii.  Home caregiver
 
 3 training will include lay persons who are attempting to keep
 
 4 their family members and loved ones in a home setting by
 
 5 acquiring the skills and understanding to do so with minimal
 
 6 financial, physical, and emotional strain.
 
 7      Development of the rehabilitation research and training
 
 8 component of the center will focus on occupational, physical,
 
 9 speech, and psycho-social functions and now they can be improved
 
10 to permit the maximum amount of independence of movement and
 
11 highest quality of life.
 
12      No construction needs to be done since adequate work and
 
13 housing facilities already exist on the grounds of Kula Hospital.
 
14      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
15 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000, or so much
 
16 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to fund
 
17 the planning and development of the Hawaii Geriatric Research and
 
18 Training Center at Kula Hospital, specifically the:
 
19      (1)  Design of successful public-private collaboration in
 
20           Hawaii geriatric research and training based upon
 
21           review of successful models;
 
22      (2)  Exploration of Pacific Rim interest in collaboration
 
23           and funding;
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           122
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (3)  Development and planning of a five-year geriatric
 
 2           research program;
 
 3      (4)  Development and planning of three-year professional and
 
 4           lay training programs;
 
 5      (5)  Development and planning of three-year geriatric
 
 6           rehabilitation programs;
 
 7      (6)  Development of plans to address native Hawaiian aging
 
 8           issues;
 
 9      (7)  Identification of technical requirements such as
 
10           teleconferencing and telemedicine;
 
11      (8)  Development of private and governmental funding
 
12           alternatives and opportunities to support geriatric
 
13           research and training in Hawaii; and
 
14      (9)  Report to the legislature at least twenty days prior to
 
15           the convening of the regular session of 2000.
 
16      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
17 Hawaii health systems corporation for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
19 
 
20                           INTRODUCED BY:_________________________