By: Van de Putte S.C.R. No. 52
2001S1237/2
1-1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, Both statewide and nationally, the public is
1-3 focusing attention on issues facing the health care industry that
1-4 impact each individual and family's personal and economic future
1-5 well-being; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A senior citizens prescription benefit to help
1-7 seniors deal with the high price of prescription medication is
1-8 being developed nationally; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Genomics and biotech breakthroughs will shift the
1-10 health care system from cure to prevention, which will bring added
1-11 responsibilities for pharmacists; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Pharmacists recognize the leadership of the
1-13 physician and the need to have the physician at the head of the
1-14 health care team with the pharmacist as a vital member of the team,
1-15 along with nurses, dentists, and other health care professionals;
1-16 and
1-17 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest and crucial to the
1-18 future of health care that physicians, pharmacists, nurses,
1-19 dentists, other health care professionals, and other interested
1-20 persons creatively think about future roles of health care
1-21 providers; and
1-22 WHEREAS, As a first step in this collaborative effort, the
1-23 Texas Pharmacy Foundation partnered with the Texas Institute for
1-24 Health Policy Research in September, 2000, to present a symposium
2-1 on the Role of the Pharmacist in the 21st Century, seeking input
2-2 from the other health professions as well as from pharmacists with
2-3 a desire to be knowledgeable and proactive regarding the future of
2-4 pharmacists in the State of Texas; and
2-5 WHEREAS, The institute developed a research methodology that
2-6 combined a qualitative approach (breakout sessions following expert
2-7 presentations) with quantitative features (on-site instant opinion
2-8 polling) to help achieve this goal of having pharmacists,
2-9 physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and other
2-10 interested persons creatively think about future issues; and
2-11 WHEREAS, The most experienced and interested speakers
2-12 available made presentations, and while greater numbers of
2-13 participants would have possibly increased the richness of the
2-14 interactions, much was gleaned from what was presented at the
2-15 symposium, and more future input from a diverse cross section of
2-16 the health care community should be obtained; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Collaborative planning often runs into trouble when
2-18 individuals and groups do not share a similar viewpoint of the
2-19 future, for instance, that future health care systems will shift
2-20 from care to prevention, then related decisions will be difficult
2-21 to agree upon; the problem is not in having differing viewpoints of
2-22 the future; in fact, expressing differing viewpoints is a critical
2-23 stage in successful decision-making; the problem lies in not
2-24 uncovering or clarifying underlying, conflicting assumptions which
2-25 may be the root cause for faulty decision-making or may prevent
2-26 organizations from moving forward; now, therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-2 hereby recognize the value that can be obtained for the citizens of
3-3 Texas if health care professionals come together to discuss future
3-4 roles for each profession and their interprofessional relationships
3-5 with the end result being better quality health care for all
3-6 persons and improved outcomes for medical treatments; and, be it
3-7 further
3-8 RESOLVED, That the legislature encourages the foundation to
3-9 continue its efforts to initiate this very important
3-10 interprofessional dialogue and that the institute serve as a
3-11 facilitating entity to bring all health care groups and other
3-12 stakeholders together for exchange of information and creation of a
3-13 blueprint for the future of health care service delivery; and, be
3-14 it further
3-15 RESOLVED, That the Texas Statewide Health Coordinating
3-16 Council, all agencies that are a part of the Health Professions
3-17 Council, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, other
3-18 agencies designated by the chair of the House Public Health
3-19 Committee or the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services
3-20 Committee, and all state institutions of higher education health
3-21 related programs are hereby urged to fully cooperate with the
3-22 continuation of this plan development; and, be it further
3-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate Committee on Health and Human
3-24 Services and the House Committee on Public Health and the Committee
3-25 on Human Services are each requested to have the chair of the
3-26 committee or the chair's designee, attend each plenary session of
4-1 the coalition of health groups which form the "Health Care Team"
4-2 and participate in such sessions and report back on the
4-3 recommendations of the group before the start of the next regular
4-4 session of the Texas Legislature in January, 2003; and, be it
4-5 further
4-6 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature hereby commend the Texas
4-7 Pharmacy Foundation and the Texas Institute for Health Policy
4-8 Research for providing leadership and opportunity for health care
4-9 professionals, citizens, and patients to accomplish better health
4-10 outcomes in their communities by engaging in dialogue that will
4-11 result in a better understanding of the scope of practice of
4-12 pharmacists and as a member of the "Health Care Team"; and, be it
4-13 further
4-14 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be provided to the
4-15 foundation and institute as an expression of the commendation from
4-16 the Texas Legislature.