HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

99

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Recognizing and Honoring valisa saunders, MN, APRN, BC, GNP, the american geriatrics society "clinician of the year."

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, society is facing the reality of an increasingly larger elderly population who deserve to enjoy their golden years in relative comfort and health; and

 

     WHEREAS, health care needs specific to the aging process require qualified and dedicated health care professionals to address those needs; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Geriatrics Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people and supporting this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research, and public policy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Geriatrics Society has established a "Clinician of the Year" award to recognize the great contributions of practitioners to the delivery of quality health care to older people, and the importance of the geriatrics clinician in our health care delivery system; and

 

     WHEREAS, in May of 2008, VALISA SAUNDERS, MN, APRN, BC, GNP, a certified gerontological nurse practitioner with Kaiser Permanente-Hawaii and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was chosen to be the recipient of the American Geriatrics Society "Clinician of the Year" award and is the first non-physician to receive this award; and

 

     WHEREAS, over her 22 year career in gerontology care at Kaiser Permanente - Hawaii, VALISA SAUNDERS, MN, APRN, BC, GNP, has been in the forefront of improving the quality of elderly care in Hawaii and was instrumental in developing the standard-setting nursing home rounding program, a program which has been implemented by nurse practitioners and physicians from various organizations and includes regularly scheduled visits and timely phone access for urgent problems to about 20 nursing homes in Hawaii, providing care for approximately 1,000 elderly patients; and

 

     WHEREAS, the rounding program has resulted in the decline of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for nursing home residents through early detection and treatment of medical problems in the facilities; and

 

     WHEREAS, VALISA SAUNDERS, MD, APRN, BC, GNP embodies the criteria set by the American Geriatrics Society for their "Clinician of the Year" award, wherein she maintains a high level of professional competence through continuing medical education, is available and accessible to patients, communicates clearly and carefully with patients and their families, is aware of the ethical and social issues inherent in geriatric care, and contributes tremendously to community health care efforts; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-Fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that this body hereby recognizes and honors VALISA SAUNDERS, MN, APRN, BC, GNP, recipient of the American Geriatrics Society's Clinician of the Year Award and extends to her its appreciation for her dedication to her profession and her great contribution to the well-being of the elderly population of our community.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Honoring Valisa Saunders, MN, APRN, BC, GNP, recipient of the American Geriatrics Society "Clinician of the Year" Award.