Hilo Medical Center Recieves American Heart Association Gold Award

Mark attended the American Heart Association Gold Award ceremony recognizing the efforts of the cardiac unit at Hilo Medical Center in promoting pulmonary health care and improvement in the treatment of coronary artery disease. The American Heart Association "Get With the Guidelines" program is meant to help hospitals hone its competitive edge by providing tangible evidence to patients and stakeholders of the hospital's commitment to improving health care.

Hilo Medical Center earned the Gold Performance Achievement Award by:

• Starting patients on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital.
• Providing patients with smoking cessation/weight management counseling before they are discharged.
• Demonstrating for 24 consecutive months that at least 85% of its eligible coronary patients (without contraindications) are discharged following the American Heart Association's recommended treatment guidelines.

NCLS Project Citizen

Mark meets with students from Kapolei Middle School who were in Philadelphia as part of Project Citizen which engages students from around the nation to research and address issues that are prevalent in their communities. In their project, these students tackled the problem of teenage drug use.

Re-Building Ground Zero

New York City -- Mark visited "Ground Zero" the site of the World Trade Center tragedy. Having visited the observation deck of the World Trade Center many years ago, it was difficult to imagine that this construction site was the twin marvels that collapsed as the result of terrorist attacks.

Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto

The Legislature convened to consider overriding vetoes of the Governor on 53 bills to which the Governor objected. In the end, the Legislature acted to disagree with the Governor on 35 bills that will now become law in spite of the Governor's veto.

Among these bills was HB 343 that establishes the Rural Primary Health Care Training Program to address the health care needs of rural and medically under served areas. This bill would authorize the John A. Burns School of Medicine to establish a residency program on the Big Island.

In vetoing this measure, the Governor stated "this bill is objectionable" citing funding costs. However, in spite of the costs, I believe that it is important to being investing now on our health infrastructure to insure that we will not face a catastrophic lack of health care providers in the very near future. This program is an important first step as it has been demonstrated that doctors are likely to set up their practices where they did their residency.

Representative Mark Nakashima toured the University of Hawaii at Manoa dormitories recently. As Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education, many of the repair and maintenance and capital improvement decisions will come within the committee's jurisdiction.

The tour included the newly re-built Frear Hall which is now a high rise complex replacing an older obsolete three story building that previous occupied the site on Dole Street. The new dormitory features private, semi-private and traditional two bed rooms including standard Internet wiring that has become the new hallmark as students become more and more connected.

The tour concluded with a visit to Representative Nakashima's former "digs" in the Hale Wainani Campus apartments. Mark is pictured here with full-time hall director.

Mark featured on Kukui Connection

"Coming up on the Kukui Connection - Sunday July 12th (repeated July 26th), 4:00 p.m., Olelo, Channel 54 will be freshman Representative Mark Nakashima.

Rep. Nakashima represents District 1: North Kohala, South Kohala, Hamakua, North Hilo, and South Hilo. Geographically, it is one of the largest districts in the state."

See full story at:

http://hawaiihouseblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/kukui-connection-rep-mark-nakashima.html

July 2009 Newsletter

Congratulations Bohdi

Bohdi Amar (front) joins his mom Michelle, Rep Nakashima, his dad Gino and his teacher Jean DeMercer-Breese in a visit to the Capitol.

Bohdi Amar, a student at Kohala Elementary will join other Hawaii icons such as Former Governors John Waihee and George Ariyoshi and Entertainer Danny Kalekini as a part of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood "50 Voices" program. Bohdi's essay was selected to represent the Big Island by the State of Hawaii 50th Anniversary Celebration Commission and will soon be aired on televsion and radio.