Report Title:

Health Professional Education; Workforce Development; Rural Areas; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to support the Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program.

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1046

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to health professional education.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a severe shortage of health care providers in the State, with all five neighbor islands federally designated as medically underserved and health personnel shortage areas.  While suffering from a shortage of physicians and nurses, there is also a serious shortage of other health professionals including: social workers, psychologists, medical technologists, speech and audiology therapists, nutritionists, dental hygienists, educators, and public health professionals.

     The Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program, sponsored by the University of Hawaii school of nursing and dental hygiene, provides opportunities for health science and education students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa to participate on interdisciplinary teams at rural sites with faculty and community members.  The curriculum emphasizes community capacity building, providing the foundation for building on the strengths and assets of each rural community in using appropriate methods to enhance the health of the people who live and work there.  These programs focus on all age groups and on critical issues such as diabetes, cancer, health care access, drug abuse prevention, self-esteem, smoking cessation, physical fitness, nutrition, and obesity prevention.  Since 2000, the Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program has proven highly successful in recruiting health professionals to areas where they are most needed.

     Through summer practicums, health science and education students gain valuable work experience while living and working in these rural communities and develop connections for possible future employment.  They also provide opportunities for high school students from these rural communities to be mentored by the Hawaii Quentin Burdick students.  Several interdisciplinary teams have expanded mentoring opportunities for rural high school students by designing and implementing comprehensive projects that help prepare high school students for college by educating them about the application process, college entrance examinations, scholarship opportunities, and tours of University of Hawaii campuses.

     The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of health professionals in underserved rural communities in the State through the continued support of the Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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