HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

81

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

urging hawaii health systems corporation and st. francis healthcare system to continue their partnership in serving the needs of dialysis patients in hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS, only 50 years ago, kidney failure meant certain death for the afflicted; and

WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation estimates that as many as 20,000,000 Americans have kidney disease, and thousands of individuals die from these illness each year; and

WHEREAS, in 1965, St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, through efforts of local physicians and interested supporters, pioneered renal dialysis therapy in the State; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2000, with the support of the Hawaii state government, private individuals, and eleemosynary organizations, St. Francis was able to expand its network of dialysis facilities to every county in the State; and

WHEREAS, today, more than 1,000 Hawaii residents and tourists receive life-saving hemodialysis treatments three times per week at 10 renal satellite facilities located in Honolulu, Ewa, Waianae, Hilo, Kona, Wailuku, Kahana, Kaunakakai, Lihue, and Waimea; and

WHEREAS, since 1972, the State has assisted St. Francis Healthcare System in caring for Hawaii's kidney dialysis patients and their families through facility partnerships at the Hilo Medical Center, Kona Judiciary Building, Maui Memorial Center, and Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that this partnership between the State and St. Francis Healthcare System is continued to ensure that operating costs are kept at a minimum so that the necessary, life-saving service of dialysis continues to be available and accessible to Hawaii residents and tourists, particularly on the neighbor islands; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and St. Francis Healthcare System are urged to continue the current partnership and other agreements that have been and currently are in effect until medical advances and new technology can better serve Hawaii's hemodialysis patients; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and President of St. Francis Healthcare System.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

St. Francis Healthcare System; Dialysis