STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1604

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, and 586, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Medical Board

 

G.M. No. 580

PETER HALFORD, MD,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 581

DARREN EGAMI, MD,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 582

PALASI-SAM PULETASI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 583

JONE GEIMER-FLANDERS, DO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 584

JONE GEIMER-FLANDERS, DO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 585

GERARD AKAKA, MD,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 586

SHARON BINTLIFF, MD,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Peter Halford, Darren Egami, Palasi "Sam" Puletasi, Jone Geimer-Flanders, Gerard Akaka, and Sharon Bintliff to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Medical Board.

 

PETER HALFORD

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Peter Halford from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Halford's background, experience, and dedication to the community qualify him for appointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as a surgeon member.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Halford is a surgeon who has held numerous positions with the John A. Burns School of Medicine, including serving as the current Director of Surgical Education, and has been licensed in Hawaii since 1972.  Dr. Halford also serves as the Chair of the Credentials Committee for The Queen's Medical Center, a position which requires him to be familiar with the license requirements and scope of practice for physicians.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Halford has served as an interim member of the Hawaii Medical Board since July 2014, has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members, and recommends that Dr. Halford be appointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

DARREN EGAMI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Darren Egami from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Egami's background, experience, and dedication to serving the public qualify him for appointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as a physician member.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Egami is an orthopedic surgeon in private practice on Maui and has been licensed in Hawaii since 1994.  Dr. Egami is the Medical Staff President of the Aloha Surgical Center, previously served as the Chief of Staff for Maui Memorial Medical Center and as the President for the Maui County Medical Society, and has been involved with credentialing and peer review for over ten years.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Egami has served as an interim member of the Hawaii Medical Board since November 2014 and has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members, and recommends that Dr. Egami be appointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on his knowledge, experience, and desire to contribute to the community.

 

PALASI "SAM" PULETASI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Palasi "Sam" Puletasi from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Puletasi's experience, background, and proven leadership on the Hawaii Medical Board qualify him for reappointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as a public member.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Puletasi has an extensive federal law enforcement background, having served first as an agent for the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service and later as a senior special agent for the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Mr. Puletasi has also demonstrated a strong commitment to his community and public service through active participation in various community and volunteer organizations.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Puletasi has been a member of the Hawaii Medical Board since July 2011, and his insight from the public consumer perspective continues to enhance the effectiveness of the Board.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Puletasi be reappointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on his background and commitment to public service.

 

JONE GEIMER-FLANDERS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Jone Geimer-Flanders from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, and three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Geimer-Flanders' background, experience, and dedication to serving the community qualify her for appointment and reappointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as an osteopathic physician member.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Geimer-Flanders is a board-certified cardiologist and internal medicine physician and has been licensed in Hawaii since 2006.  Dr. Geimer-Flanders is the Chief of Inpatient Medical Services at Tripler Army Medical Center and the Medical Director for Mountain-Pacific Quality Health.  Dr. Geimer-Flanders has also served on numerous peer review, credentials, and quality risk management committees throughout her career.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Geimer-Flanders has served as an interim member of the Hawaii Medical Board since July 2014 and has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members, and recommends that Dr. Geimer-Flanders be appointed and reappointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

GERARD AKAKA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Gerard Akaka from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Akaka's experience, desire to contribute to the community, and proven leadership on the Hawaii Medical Board qualify him for reappointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as a physician member.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Akaka has been licensed in Hawaii since 1991 and is the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for The Queen's Medical Center, a position which enables Dr. Akaka to work with credentialing, peer review, physicians, and physician issues.  Dr. Akaka is also the Medical Director for The Queen's Health Systems' Native Hawaiian Health Program and is on the clinical faculty at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Akaka has served on the Hawaii Medical Board since July 2011, and his extensive medical experience continues to enhance the effectiveness of the Board.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Akaka be reappointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on his knowledge, background, and commitment to public service.

 

SHARON BINTLIFF

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Sharon Bintliff from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Medical Association.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Bintliff's extensive experience, background, and proven leadership on the Hawaii Medical Board qualify her for reappointment to the Hawaii Medical Board as a physician member.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Bintliff has practiced medicine in Hawaii, as an academic and in clinical and community practice, for almost fifty years.  Dr. Bintliff is currently the owner and practicing physician for The Resort Docs and a Clinical Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the John A. Burns School of Medicine and previously served as the Director for the Emergency Department of Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua Hospital.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Bintliff has served on the Hawaii Medical Board since July 2011 and has been the Vice Chair of the Board since 2014, and her medical background and prior experience on several other boards and organizations continue to be an asset to the Board.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Bintliff be reappointed to the Hawaii Medical Board based on her knowledge, background, and commitment to protecting the public.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair