SB3053 HD1 HSCR 720-02

Report Title:

Public Health Nursing

 

Description:

Creates the public health nursing branch program under the department of health. (SB3053 HD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3053
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING.

 

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

SECTION 1. The public health nursing branch 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 included home visitation to monitor and follow-up health conditions, and conduct screening and assessments of children for early identification and intervention. The public health nursing branch program continues to be prominently involved in the provision of services in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, immunization activities, and the immediate response to epidemics and other catastrophic disasters and traumatic emergency events in 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 program targets care coordination services to the most vulnerable population of special needs infants, toddlers, children, elderly, and other populations who have difficulty accessing the health care system due to ever-changing societal challenges. The public health nursing branch program has extensive experience in collaboration, coordination, transition, and family involvement in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations.

The purpose of this Act is to statutorily establish the public health nursing branch 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 branch program. The program shall include the following:

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

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

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

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

(5) Collaborating with the department of education and the Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics in the provision of school health services in addressing the medical and health conditions of students that affect their learning;

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

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

(8) Collecting and evaluating data that address family and community needs for nursing and health services delivery changes to enhance the quality of life for families."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.