By Hopson                                             H.R. No. 1385
         77R17895 JKB-F                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Both statewide and nationally, the public is
 1-2     focusing attention on issues facing the health care industry that
 1-3     impact each individual's and family's personal and economic future
 1-4     well-being; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A senior citizens prescription benefit to help
 1-6     seniors deal with the high price of prescription medication is
 1-7     being developed nationally; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Genomics and biotech breakthroughs will shift the
 1-9     health care system from cure to prevention, which will bring added
1-10     responsibilities for pharmacists; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Pharmacists recognize the leadership of the
1-12     physician and the need to have the physician at the head of the
1-13     health care team with the pharmacist as a vital member of the team,
1-14     along with nurses, dentists, and other health care professionals;
1-15     and
1-16           WHEREAS, It is in the public interest and crucial to the
1-17     future of health care that physicians, pharmacists, nurses,
1-18     dentists, other health care professionals, and other interested
1-19     persons creatively think about future roles of health care
1-20     providers; and
1-21           WHEREAS, As a first step in this collaborative effort, the
1-22     Texas Pharmacy Foundation partnered with the Texas Institute for
1-23     Health Policy Research in September 2000 to present a symposium on
1-24     the Role of the Pharmacist in the 21st Century, seeking input from
 2-1     the other health care professions as well as from pharmacists with
 2-2     a desire to be knowledgeable and proactive regarding the future of
 2-3     pharmacists in the State of Texas; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The institute developed a research methodology that
 2-5     combined a qualitative approach (breakout sessions following expert
 2-6     presentations) with quantitative features (on-site instant opinion
 2-7     polling) to help achieve this goal of having pharmacists,
 2-8     physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and other
 2-9     interested persons creatively think about future issues; and
2-10           WHEREAS, The most experienced and interested speakers
2-11     available made presentations, and while greater numbers of
2-12     participants would have possibly increased the richness of the
2-13     interactions, much was gleaned from what was presented at the
2-14     symposium, and more future input from a diverse cross section of
2-15     the health care community should be obtained; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Collaborative planning often runs into trouble when
2-17     individuals and groups do not share a similar viewpoint of the
2-18     future, for instance, that future health care systems will shift
2-19     from care to prevention, then related decisions will be difficult
2-20     to agree on; the problem is not in having differing viewpoints of
2-21     the future--in fact, expressing differing viewpoints is a critical
2-22     stage in successful decision-making--the problem lies in not
2-23     uncovering or clarifying underlying, conflicting assumptions that
2-24     may be the root cause for faulty decision-making or may prevent
2-25     organizations from moving forward; now, therefore, be it
2-26           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-27     Legislature hereby recognize the value that can be obtained for the
 3-1     citizens of Texas if health care professionals come together to
 3-2     discuss future roles for each profession and their
 3-3     interprofessional relationships with the end result being better
 3-4     quality health care for all persons and improved outcomes for
 3-5     medical treatments; and, be it further
 3-6           RESOLVED, That the foundation be encouraged to continue its
 3-7     efforts to initiate this very important interprofessional dialogue
 3-8     and that the institute serve as a facilitating entity to bring all
 3-9     health care groups and other stakeholders together for exchange of
3-10     information and creation of a blueprint for the future of health
3-11     care service delivery; and, be it further
3-12           RESOLVED, That the Texas Statewide Health Coordinating
3-13     Council, all agencies that are a part of the Health Professions
3-14     Council, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, other
3-15     agencies designated by the chair of the House Public Health
3-16     Committee or the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services
3-17     Committee, and all state institutions of higher education
3-18     health-related programs are hereby urged to fully cooperate with
3-19     the continuation of this plan development; and, be it further
3-20           RESOLVED, That the Texas Pharmacy Foundation and the Texas
3-21     Institute for Health Policy Research be commended for providing
3-22     leadership and opportunity for health care professionals, citizens,
3-23     and patients to accomplish better health outcomes in their
3-24     communities by engaging in dialogue that will result in a better
3-25     understanding of the scope of practice of pharmacists and as a
3-26     member of the "Health Care Team"; and, be it further
3-27           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the
 4-1     foundation and institute as an expression of the commendation from
 4-2     the Texas House of Representatives.