Report Title:

Public Health Nursing; School Health System

Description:

Statutorily establishes the Public Health Nursing Services Program within the Department of Health. (CD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

740

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

C.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

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

SECTION 1. The public health nursing services program was established by the department of health in 1923 to provide communicable disease control, infant welfare services, and nutrition services. Public health nursing services include home visitations to monitor and follow up on health conditions, and screening and assessment of children for early identification and intervention. The public health nursing services program continues to be prominently involved in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, immunization activities, and providing an immediate response to epidemics and other catastrophic disasters and traumatic emergency events affecting the community.

Public health nurses have the clinical experience to monitor, anticipate, and respond to public health problems in communities regardless of the disease or threat. The public health nursing services program targets the coordination of care and services to the most vulnerable segments of the population-–special needs infants, toddlers, children, the elderly, and other populations who have difficulty accessing the health care system. The program has extensive experience in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations through collaboration, coordination, transition, and family involvement.

The purpose of this Act is to statutorily establish the public health nursing services program to recognize the roles and functions of the program in the delivery of direct clinical nursing services to the people of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321-    Public health nursing services program. There is established within the department of health, the public health nursing services program. The program shall:

(1) Mobilize the department's nursing resources and respond to catastrophic and traumatic emergency events including natural disasters (for example, tsunami, hurricane, and flooding) and biologic outbreak or exposure;

(2) Respond to communicable diseases and other public health outbreaks;

(3) Provide care coordination services to the most vulnerable populations of special needs infants, toddlers, and children with complex medical conditions, as well as the elderly and other populations who have difficulty accessing the health care system;

(4) Provide services that involve the family, in collaboration and coordination with other agencies;

(5) Collaborate with the department of education and the Hawaii chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics in the provision of school health services to address medical and health conditions of students that affect learning;

(6) Develop collaborative partnerships with individuals, families, communities, and providers, to improve the health and safety of families and communities through the assessment of community needs, establishment of priorities, and development of policy;

(7) Provide health care services when no other resources are available in the community; and

(8) Collect and evaluate data related to family and community needs, to improve nursing and health services delivery and enhance the quality of life for families."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.