MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today awarded $912,713 to Hawai‘i to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking—the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. The award to Hawai‘i is part of $119.1 million going to the states as the first of several initiatives that make up the comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The cost of managing chronic diseases in Hawai‘i is growing exponentially,” said Hawai‘i Health Director Chiyome Fukino, M.D. “Unless we do more to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases from occurring in the first place we will never be able to bring health care spending under control.”

The supplemental funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) acknowledges the value of existing projects within the Department of Health’s Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative and supports them through additional funding. DOH was awarded $428,713 to apply sustainable policy and systems changes in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and tobacco. Funded projects include:

• State Worksite Wellness Policy, to increase opportunities for physical activity in the workplace by providing liability immunity for state and county agencies that offer activities through worksite wellness programs, through state legislation.
• Baby Friendly Hawai‘i Project, DOH will work closely with the Breastfeeding Coalition of Hawai‘i to increase support for breastfeeding by changing policies in hospital maternity programs statewide, to increase the likelihood of sustained exclusive breastfeeding after birth, a protective factor from obesity and diabetes.
• Tobacco Advertising Project, DOH with work with REAL, a statewide anti-tobacco youth coalition, to align through youth advocacy, existing county and state tobacco advertising and promotion policies to recent changes in the federal Food and Drug Administration regulations through establishing or changing existing state and county level policies. Interested youth can join the effort by visiting www.therealmessage.net

DOH was also awarded $484,000 to join other states to reach the national goal of having 80,000 smokers nationwide successfully quit as a result of additional quit line services and media activity. DOH will increase the Hawai‘i Quitline’s evidence-based program that includes coaching and free nicotine replacement therapy to an additional 1,100 insured tobacco users in a 24-month period. A media campaign to encourage smokers to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW will target populations with high tobacco use. Research shows that people who get support while they’re quitting are much more likely to successfully beat their smoking addiction.

Smoking and tobacco use are the leading cause of preventable sickness and deaths in Hawai‘i and the nation. Tobacco use results in the death of over 1,200 residents of Hawai‘i annually and costs $643 million a year in medical costs and lost productivity. In 2003, obesity related medical expenditures for adults in Hawai‘i were estimated to be $290 million. “The ARRA funds help to support our efforts to establish sustainable changes that make it easier for children and adults in Hawai‘i to be more physically active, eat healthy foods, and live tobacco free,” said Fukino. “These activities are part of a comprehensive effort to provide people with opportunities for living healthy in Hawai‘i.”

To learn more about Hawai‘i prevention and wellness projects, visit www.healthyhawaii.com. To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery

Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

A first-of-its kind medical clinic and training center for health professionals celebrated its grand opening in Hilo on Saturday (Oct 24).

The Hawai‘i Island Family Health Center is the culmination of several years of effort by island residents and federal, state, and local governments to address a critical shortage in health professionals available to the Big Island’s citizens.

The clinic is staffed by a unique combination of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. They include faculty from:

• The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
• The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
• The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Baccalaureate Nursing Program
• The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Pharmacy

Along with the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation’s Hilo Medical Center, they will serve patients in the community, while also training future medical professionals to serve in a rural health setting. Dr. Lucy Bucci, MD, MPH, JABSOM Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, is the Site Director. She will lead a staff of two physicians, a nurse practitioner and a pharmacist. They already are seeing about 40 patients a day.

“Our faculty are very excited to be part of this interdisciplinary effort which will offer learning opportunities for nursing, nurse practitioner, and pharmacy students, and medical residents to collaborate together in meeting the health care needs of people in our community,” said Kathryn Daub, Chair of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Baccalaureate Nursing Department.

“This collaboration between nursing, medicine and pharmacy marks a landmark for Hawai’i,” said Mary Boland, Dean, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. “While we have students from all the islands, this is the first time we launched a direct service program with our partner schools, Hilo Medical Center and the community.”

“Specialists tend to train separately,” said Dr. Jerris Hedges, JABSOM Dean. “This is an opportunity to bring people together while they are training, have them work in a interdisciplinary clinic, and build their medical knowledge and patient management abilities while using the skills of each profession to boost their education.”

“Pharmacists have always been an integral part of family medicine, but often don’t interact with the patient until later in the health care process,” said John M. Pezzuto, Dean, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Pharmacy. “It’s essential for us to be a part of this clinic from the inception so that we can not only interact with patients and doctors more directly, but so we can help shape future health care in Hawai‘i.”

Officials believe the interdisciplinary training center will make it easier to recruit needed health care workers from all four health care professions to practice on the Big Island.

“As the sponsoring hospital for the Hawai‘i Island Family Health Center, Hilo Medical Center looks forward to seeing this multi-disciplinary program flourish and contribute to producing more physicians and other health care professionals who practice and live in East Hawai‘i,” said Howard Ainsley, East Hawai‘i Regional CEO of Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation.

Individuals and community organizations came together on the Big Island after state funding for a Hilo residency training program lagged. The Hilo Medical Center Foundation worked to increase awareness and funds for the program. HMSA, TriWest Health Care Alliance and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services contributed key financing to establish the clinic/training center.

“Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation, led by senior U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, worked tirelessly with the Hawai‘i State Legislature and Hawai‘i County representatives to make this a reality,” said Dr. Hedges. “This is an important step in a goal we all share: to expand health care opportunities statewide.”

TriWest is the health provider for the U.S. military’s active duty personnel. In addition to serving military on the Big Island, TriWest hopes to establish a training model which can be replicated in communities throughout the Pacific, where many military personnel are stationed.

The Hawai‘i Island Family Health Center is located at 45 Mohouli Street in Hilo. The clinic features nine examination rooms in 4,350 square feet of medical clinic and education space. The center’s telephone number is (808) 769-6100.

This AARP meeting is open to anyone and everyone interested in health care reform. AARP membership is not required.

MEDIA RELEASE

DCAB UPDATES “HAWAI‘I TRAVELER TIPS” A RESOURCE FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR HEALTH CONDITIONS

HONOLULU – The state’s Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) has updated its “Hawai‘i Traveler Tips” informational guide for the islands of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui, and Moloka‘i. The guide contains extensive information on resources for visitors to the islands who have disabilities or health conditions.

Traveler tips include general accessibility information about our airports, options for obtaining accessible transportation, a listing of home medical supply companies, and other support service resources. Contact information for the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture for information on requirements for allowing guide dogs and service animals to enter Hawai‘i without quarantine is also included.

The “Hawai‘i Traveler Tips” is an invaluable resource and can be downloaded from the DCAB website at www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab by selecting “Visitor Information” on the left navigation bar. The guide may also be obtained by mail by contacting Judy Paik at the Disability and Communication Access Board at phone 808-586-8121 (V/TTY) or by e-mail at judy.paik@doh.hawaii.gov.

Media Releases compiled by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

Hawaii’s number of confirmed cases increased by four today (May 19) bringing the total to 30.

As of May 19, 2009, 5 a.m. HST the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 48 states have 5,469 confirmed cases (not including today’s four new Hawaii cases) and six deaths.

As of May 18, 2009, 8 p.m. HST the World Health Organization reports 40 countries have officially reported 9830 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 79 deaths.

Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi presents a proclamation for Bike to Work Week at Hilo Bike Hub shop. The event is a statewide celebration of bicycling as a clean, green transportation alternative, a healthy physical activity and an economical means of mobility for many Hawaii residents.

Mayor Billy Kenoi fronts a pack of bike riders through Hilo for Bike to Work week. The Big Island event was organized by PATH Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii.

Bike to Work Week in activities will be happening all week on Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island. To see all of the activities or to register for the event, visit www.hawaiipedalpower.com.

For more information about PATH and walking and bicycling issues in Hawaii County visit www.pathhawaii.org, or call Laura Dierenfield at 936-4653.

MEDIA RELEASE

Keiki Care ended Dec. 31, 2008. However, federal reauthorization of the children’s health insurance program (CHIP) on Feb. 4 will encourage the state to revive Keiki Care.

In the meantime, HMSA Children’s Plan is currently available for $55 per month per child. Call 1-800-620-4672 on the Neighbor Islands for more information. 

Download a chart comparing eligibility, benefits, and costs for QUEST and Medicaid with HMSA Children’s Plan in PDF format by clicking here: Free and Low-Cost Health Insurance Programs for Children and Youths.

Hawaii Covering Kids helps to identify, enroll, and retain eligible children and youths in health insurance programs. We collaborate with federal, state, and community agencies to conduct outreach activities and help Med-QUEST simplify its processes.

— Find out more:

Hawaii Covering Kids: www.coveringkids.com

Swine influenza

Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan
29 April 2009

Ladies and gentlemen,

Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

On the positive side, the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history.

Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1 avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefitting from this investment.

For the first time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real-time.

I thank countries who are making the results of their investigations publicly available. This helps us understand the disease.

I am impressed by the work being done by affected countries as they deal with the current outbreaks.

I also want to thank the governments of the USA and Canada for their support to WHO, and to Mexico.

Let me remind you. New diseases are, by definition, poorly understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour.

WHO and health authorities in affected countries will not have all the answers immediately, but we will get them.

WHO will be tracking the pandemic at the epidemiological, clinical, and virological levels.

The results of these ongoing assessments will be issued as public health advice, and made publicly available.

All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.

At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection control in all health facilities.

This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions should now be undertaken with increased urgency, and at an accelerated pace.

I have reached out to donor countries, to UNITAID, to the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank and others to mobilize resources.

I have reached out to companies manufacturing antiviral drugs to assess capacity and all options for ramping up production.

I have also reached out to influenza vaccine manufacturers that can contribute to the production of a pandemic vaccine.

The biggest question, right now, is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start?

It is possible that the full clinical spectrum of this disease goes from mild illness to severe disease. We need to continue to monitor the evolution of the situation to get the specific information and data we need to answer this question.

From past experience, we also know that influenza may cause mild disease in affluent countries, but more severe disease, with higher mortality, in developing countries.

No matter what the situation is, the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response.

Above all, this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of humanity. After all, it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.

As I have said, we do not have all the answers right now, but we will get them.

Thank you.

Audio version of this report

World Health Organization

WHO Phases of pandemic alert chart

MEDIA RELEASE
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative (HHI) hosted a State Agency Worksite Wellness Meeting today. The Worksite Wellness Meeting brought together state agency directors and representatives, insurance providers, and unions to learn about comprehensive worksite wellness programming, to discuss the potential benefits and identify strategies necessary for meeting the needs of Hawai‘i government agencies and their employees.

Hawai‘i State Government is the largest employer in Hawai‘i with over 50,000 civil service and exempt employees. Because Hawai‘i pays for a large portion of its employees’ health care benefits, the government has a considerable investment in the well-being of its current and retired workforce. Over the next 30 years, Hawai‘i’s state and county governments will need to come up with as much as $11.1 billion to pay for the retiree healthcare benefits they have promised civil servants.

“One of the state’s greatest assets is a healthy and productive workforce,” said Health Director Chiyome Fukino, M.D. “To succeed in improving the health of employees, collaboration and partnership are necessary from state agencies, the health plans and vendors that serve them, and the unions that represent them.”

According to Larry Chapman, a nationally recognized expert on employee health management programs, “Hawai‘i government agencies can build comprehensive worksite wellness programming to benefit their employees and also reduce costs for the state. It’s a win-win situation.”

A study conducted in 2004 calculated adult-obesity attributable medical expenditures in Hawai‘i to be $290 million dollars. Effective health promotion and disease prevention programs, components of worksite wellness programs, can lead to reductions in health costs and improvements in productivity. Wellness programs have shown a return on investment (ROI), with an average ROI of $4.30 in health care and absenteeism costs.

In the upcoming months, the Department of Health Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative and Larry Chapman will work with state agencies and their partners as a task force to develop program recommendations and potential pilot projects.

The State Agency Worksite Wellness Meeting is a part of the Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative’s social-ecological approach to reduce the burden of chronic disease in Hawai‘i by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and living tobacco free. For more information about the Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative visit www.healthyhawaii.com.

WAIMEA – At the Dec. 11 meeting of the North Hawaii Community Hospital Board of Directors, the new board was officially elected and will immediately begin its responsibilities at the hospital, according to a statement from NHCH.

The new board includes nine new community members along with four members who have been serving on the existing board.

The new board has elected Bob Momsen as the president. He will be joined by Dr. John Dawson and Ken Wood as vice presidents, Mike Rossi as treasurer, and Bill Hastings as secretary.

“For the retiring board members, we say mahalo. Many of them were part of the original community movement to bring the vision of a great hospital to reality,” Momsen said.

The new board members have worked closely with the retiring members to ensure continuity of leadership. The new board has established five areas of focus over the next 90 days:

1. Outstanding Care: The board’s primary goal is to ensure that the hospital continues to provide outstanding care to the community.

“While the turmoil over the past months has been distracting, we can confidently assure the community that the doctors and staff at NHCH continue to provide outstanding care,” said Dr. Dana Lee, chief of staff.

2. CEO Recruitment: The board expects to hire a permanent CEO to lead the organization by Feb.15. Momsen said, “At the end of the process, we are committed to hiring a CEO who embraces the mission of the hospital and can help us re-establish a trusting and open relationship with the staff, the physicians, and the overall community.”

3. Physician Recruitment and Retention: The hospital must attract and retain physicians to support the needs of the community and the core services of the hospital.

“I am pleased to announce that we have commitments from a family practice physician, an anesthesiologist and an orthopedic surgeon to relocate to Waimea. Also, we are delighted that we have renewed Dr. Bill Park’s and Dr. Howard Wong’s contracts to continue their general surgery practice, our anesthesiologists, Dr. Ted Hon and Dr. Kristin Buehler, contracts and Dr. Jade McGaff’s contract to continue at the Women’s Center,” said Ron Vigus, interim CEO.

4. Financial Needs: The new board is bringing a keen focus on the ongoing financial needs of the hospital. NHCH loses money on core services and has done so since it was opened.

In 2007, the hospital’s operating losses were more than $7 million and are expected to be in a similar range for 2008.

“In past years, we have relied on donations from the community or from the Parker Ranch Trust to cover these losses. If you combine the difficult economic times with the transition to a new Board and CEO, we have seen a pause in the stream of donations,” said Mike Rossi, treasurer.

Dr. Bakken’s recent letter to the community was a turning point as the hospital kicks off its fundraising campaign.

5. Communication: The new board is fully committed to open and honest communication – with employees, with the medical staff and the broader community. Next spring, the board will fully engage on setting long range goals of the hospital and medical community that will shape the 2010 business plan and drive the hospital’s fundraising campaign.

North Hawaii Community Hospital is a 40-bed, full-service, acute-care medical center in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a community-owned, non-profit hospital that is managed by Quorum Health Resources. It opened in May 1996 and serves the 30,000+ residents and visitors of North Hawaii.

Former Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is home after spending two nights at Hilo Medical Center suffering pain to his back, hip and right leg.

A county news release issued Tuesday said, Kim, 69, was hospitalized Friday after the pains began Thanksgiving Day and became so severe he could not walk.

Kim now is resting at home in Hilo until he can see a neurologist – likely in Honolulu or on the mainland.

“I asked to be released because all they were giving me was narcotics and the painkillers, and after they did the MRI, they needed a neurologist but the one on staff was not available,” Kim said.

Kim, whose two terms as mayor ended Monday, said he believes pain is due to a ruptured disc in his back.

“The pain is still there, the inability to walk or function is there, and who wants to be like that?” he said. “The doctors are trying to rush it as much as possible, but as most people find out, it’s really difficult to get an appointment.”

Kim, who suffered his third heart attack in September, said he is concerned the pain could put unnecessary strain on his heart.

Kim was unable to attend the inauguration ceremonies Monday at Hilo’s Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where Billy Kenoi was sworn in as mayor. Kenoi served as one of Kim’s executive assistants from 2001 to 2007. Kim also endorsed Kenoi.

Last week, Kim said he looked forward to traveling, and is not likely to run for elected office again.