SCR53 SD1

WHEREAS, the population of North Kona on the island of Hawai‘i has significantly increased over the years, which has corresponded with a steady increase in the need for convenient access to medical services; and

WHEREAS, today the growing community of North Kona faces a severe shortage of medical care and hospital services; and

WHEREAS, the residents of North Kona would greatly benefit from the addition of a hospital in their community; and

WHEREAS, the accelerated and shifting economic and population growth in North Kona has created a regional urban core inconveniently far from Kona Community Hospital with a population too large to be accommodated by the facility's ninety-four bed capacity; and

WHEREAS, the island of Hawai‘i is being impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); and

WHEREAS, there are concerns about the shortage of staff in hospitals on the island of Hawai‘i due to demands created by COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, there are also concerns that hospitals on the island of Hawai‘i will reach capacity and have insufficient resources to adequately respond to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the island of Hawai‘i has recently witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases, and a majority of those cases are on the west side of the island of Hawai‘i; and

WHEREAS, a hospital in the North Kona area would be particularly beneficial should Kona Community Hospital become at risk of surpassing its critical care and maximum bed capacity due to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, there has already been a long-time community demand for a larger and more accessible hospital in North Kona; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is requested to convene a task force to conduct:

(1) A feasibility study for the construction of a hospital in North Kona; and

(2) A health care needs assessment of the West Hawaii region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include the following members or their designees:

(1) A member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) The Director of Health;

(4) The Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, West Hawaii Region;

(5) A representative from Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital;

(6) A member of the West Hawaii Regional Health System Board of Directors; and

(7) Any other representatives the Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, West Hawaii Region, or the Regional Chief Executive Officer's designee, deems necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, West Hawaii Region, or the Regional Chief Executive Officer's designee is requested to serve as the chairperson of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an initial meeting of the task force is requested to be held no later than June 1, 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, with the assistance of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to be dissolved on June 30, 2022; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health; Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Corporate Office; Chief Executive Officer of The Queen's Health Systems; and Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, West Hawaii Region.

Report Title:

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, West Hawaii Region; Hospital; Feasibility Study; North Kona

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	53
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII