Bill Text: HI SCR139 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Cesarean Sections; Induction of Labor; Preterm Birth Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-04-15 - (H) Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 58 [SCR139 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-SCR139-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	139
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE TO REDUCE ELECTIVE CESAREAN SECTIONS AND INDUCTION OF LABOR.

 

 

     WHEREAS, premature birth is one of the leading causes of infant death, accounting for thirty-seven percent of infant deaths in the first year of life; and

 

     WHEREAS, more than twelve percent of babies in Hawaii are born prematurely, at less than thirty-seven completed weeks of gestation; and

 

     WHEREAS, late preterm births, which occur between thirty-four and thirty-six weeks of gestation, account for more than nine percent of babies born in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, late preterm infants have a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality when compared with term infants; and

 

     WHEREAS, premature babies who survive may suffer lifelong problems including cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, breathing and respiratory problems, and vision and hearing loss; and

 

     WHEREAS, the rate of births by cesarean delivery in the United States has risen from more than twenty-one percent in 1996 to more than thirty-two percent in 2007; and

 

     WHEREAS, the rate of labor induction in the United States has more than doubled since 1990, with more than twenty-two percent of pregnant woman inducing labor in 2006; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines call for the confirmation of thirty-nine weeks of gestation for single births prior to the elective, or non-medically indicated, induction of labor under most circumstances; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Healthy People 2010 objective proposed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services is that no more than 7.6 percent of babies will be born preterm; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 215, S.D. 1, during the 2009 Regular Session to request the Department of Health to review and assess the policies and procedures implemented by hospitals to reduce elective cesarean sections and inductions of labor; and

 

     WHEREAS, in response to this resolution, the Department of Health convened a workgroup that found some variation in the guidelines used by hospitals in the State regarding elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries, wide variation in the awareness of hospitals to changes in the rates of elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries performed among hospitals in the State, and a general lack of training opportunities relating to elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite efforts to reduce preterm births, there remains a need for standardized guidelines and procedures among hospitals in Hawaii that are current with accepted best practices and guidelines, better awareness of the risks of elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries, and increased training opportunities among hospital personnel relating to elective inductions and preterm cesarean deliveries; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and representatives from health plan providers in the State, is requested to convene a Preterm Birth Task Force that is to be administratively attached to the Department of Health to develop best practices recommended by either the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for reducing elective inductions and cesarean deliveries; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Preterm Birth Task Force is requested to:

 

     (1)  Review laws and rules governing the licensure of hospitals in the State;

 

     (2)  Determine if all hospitals with obstetric units in the State should be required to develop standardized policies and procedures that conform with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Institute for Healthcare Improvement guidelines for reducing elective inductions and cesarean deliveries;

 

     (3)  Research and maintain current interdisciplinary best practices training materials;

 

     (4)  Maintain a learning collaboration model for health care practitioners, physicians, staff, and registrars of hospitals, community health centers, and other institutions in the State;

 

     (5)  Develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public on the risks of elective preterm cesarean sections and induction of labor, and track data on the effectiveness of the campaign;

 

     (6)  Track data relating to the rate of preterm births in Hawaii and the effect that changes in the rate of preterm births may have on infant morbidity and mortality; and

 

     (7)  Examine other issues that may be related to elective preterm cesarean sections and induction of labor using trends and other information obtained through public health records; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Preterm Birth Task Force be composed of the following individuals:

 

     (1)  A representative of the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health, to be appointed by the Director of Health;

 

     (2)  A representative from the Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, to be appointed by the Director of Human Services;

 

     (3)  A representative from Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

 

     (4)  A representative from March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter;

 

     (5)  A representative from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai‘i; and

 

     (6)  Three physicians specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics, respectively; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012 on the Task Force's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, at which time the Task Force shall cease to exist; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Human Services, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter, and Health Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai‘i.

Report Title: 

Cesarean Sections; Induction of Labor; Preterm Birth Task Force