1-1     By:  Van de Putte                                     S.C.R. No. 52
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed May 3, 2001; May 4, 2001, read first
 1-3     time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services;
 1-4     May 8, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8,
 1-5     Nays 0; May 8, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, Both statewide and nationally, the public is
 1-8     focusing attention on issues facing the health care industry that
 1-9     impact each individual and family's personal and economic future
1-10     well-being; and
1-11           WHEREAS, A senior citizens prescription benefit to help
1-12     seniors deal with the high price of prescription medication is
1-13     being developed nationally; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Genomics and biotech breakthroughs will shift the
1-15     health care system from cure to prevention, which will bring added
1-16     responsibilities for pharmacists; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Pharmacists recognize the leadership of the
1-18     physician and the need to have the physician at the head of the
1-19     health care team with the pharmacist as a vital member of the team,
1-20     along with nurses, dentists, and other health care professionals;
1-21     and
1-22           WHEREAS, It is in the public interest and crucial to the
1-23     future of health care that physicians, pharmacists, nurses,
1-24     dentists, other health care professionals, and other interested
1-25     persons creatively think about future roles of health care
1-26     providers; and
1-27           WHEREAS, As a first step in this collaborative effort, the
1-28     Texas Pharmacy Foundation partnered with the Texas Institute for
1-29     Health Policy Research in September, 2000, to present a symposium
1-30     on the Role of the Pharmacist in the 21st Century, seeking input
1-31     from the other health professions as well as from pharmacists with
1-32     a desire to be knowledgeable and proactive regarding the future of
1-33     pharmacists in the State of Texas; and
1-34           WHEREAS, The institute developed a research methodology that
1-35     combined a qualitative approach (breakout sessions following expert
1-36     presentations) with quantitative features (on-site instant opinion
1-37     polling) to help achieve this goal of having pharmacists,
1-38     physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and other
1-39     interested persons creatively think about future issues; and
1-40           WHEREAS, The most experienced and interested speakers
1-41     available made presentations, and while greater numbers of
1-42     participants would have possibly increased the richness of the
1-43     interactions, much was gleaned from what was presented at the
1-44     symposium, and more future input from a diverse cross section of
1-45     the health care community should be obtained; and
1-46           WHEREAS, Collaborative planning often runs into trouble when
1-47     individuals and groups do not share a similar viewpoint of the
1-48     future, for instance, that future health care systems will shift
1-49     from care to prevention, then related decisions will be difficult
1-50     to agree upon; the problem is not in having differing viewpoints of
1-51     the future; in fact, expressing differing viewpoints is a critical
1-52     stage in successful decision-making; the problem lies in not
1-53     uncovering or clarifying underlying, conflicting assumptions which
1-54     may be the root cause for faulty decision-making or may prevent
1-55     organizations from moving forward; now, therefore, be it
1-56           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-57     hereby recognize the value that can be obtained for the citizens of
1-58     Texas if health care professionals come together to discuss future
1-59     roles for each profession and their interprofessional relationships
1-60     with the end result being better quality health care for all
1-61     persons and improved outcomes for medical treatments; and, be it
1-62     further
1-63           RESOLVED, That the legislature encourages the foundation to
1-64     continue its efforts to initiate this very important
 2-1     interprofessional dialogue and that the institute serve as a
 2-2     facilitating entity to bring all health care groups and other
 2-3     stakeholders together for exchange of information and creation of a
 2-4     blueprint for the future of health care service delivery; and, be
 2-5     it further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the Texas Statewide Health Coordinating
 2-7     Council, all agencies that are a part of the Health Professions
 2-8     Council, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, other
 2-9     agencies designated by the chair of the House Public Health
2-10     Committee or the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services
2-11     Committee, and all state institutions of higher education health
2-12     related programs are hereby urged to fully cooperate with the
2-13     continuation of this plan development; and, be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate Committee on Health and Human
2-15     Services and the House Committee on Public Health and the Committee
2-16     on Human Services are each requested to have the chair of the
2-17     committee or the chair's designee, attend each plenary session of
2-18     the coalition of health groups which form the "Health Care Team"
2-19     and participate in such sessions and report back on the
2-20     recommendations of the group before the start of the next regular
2-21     session of the Texas Legislature in January, 2003; and, be it
2-22     further
2-23           RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature hereby commend the Texas
2-24     Pharmacy Foundation and the Texas Institute for Health Policy
2-25     Research for providing leadership and opportunity for health care
2-26     professionals, citizens, and patients to accomplish better health
2-27     outcomes in their communities by engaging in dialogue that will
2-28     result in a better understanding of the scope of practice of
2-29     pharmacists and as a member of the "Health Care Team"; and, be it
2-30     further
2-31           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be provided to the
2-32     foundation and institute as an expression of the commendation from
2-33     the Texas Legislature.
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