Report Title:

DOH; Public Health Nurses (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

133

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING PROGRAM.

 

 

WHEREAS, the public health nursing program (program) was established by the Department of Health in 1923 for the control of infectious diseases and tuberculosis, infant and child welfare, and nutrition services; and

WHEREAS, the program continues to be prominently involved in the provision of services in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, immunization activities, and in the mobilization of resources during epidemics in the community; and

WHEREAS, the program responds in the mobilization of resources to catastrophic, traumatic emergency events, and other disasters in the community; and

WHEREAS, the program supports families and communities through the provision of family centered services in addressing the myriad of public health issues with services not limited to specific programs, specific issues or diagnosis which leads to fragmentation and gaps; and

WHEREAS, the program targets its care coordination services to the most vulnerable population of special needs infants, toddlers, children, elderly, and other populations having difficulty accessing the health care system due to the ever changing societal complexities and challenges; and

WHEREAS, the program collaborates with the Department of Education and Hawaii Chapter of Academy of Pediatrics in the provision of school health services addressing the medical and health conditions of students that impact on their learning and the provision of treatment services to the medically fragile students in the public schools; and

WHEREAS, the program provides nursing services in a variety of settings such as the home, school, clinic, office, and other public areas that are accessible to individuals, families, and communities; and

WHEREAS, the program develops collaborative partnerships with individuals, families, communities, and providers to improve the health and safety of the families and communities through assessment of community needs, setting priorities and policy development; and

WHEREAS, the program provides safety-net health care services when no other resources are available in the community; and

WHEREAS, the program provides population-based health education, health promotion, and preventive health services in the community; and

WHEREAS, in the event of an epidemic or natural disaster or catastrophic traumatic emergency event, there is no other public or private nursing program that is charged with the responsibility to protect and promote health and safety of the people; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health's Public Health Nursing Branch is recognized and applauded for its commitment in protecting and promoting the health and safety of our communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that serious consideration be given in the 2002 legislative session to codifying the public health nursing program into the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Health, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate.