Hawaii wins $150,000 federal health-planning grant

The state has been awarded $150,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bolster its health care work force. The one-year grant will be used to help formulate a plan for addressing the state’s needs.

James Hardway, executive director of the Hawaii Workforce Development Council, said the plan will have three main goals: How do we recruit, train and place persons in the health care industry in 12 to 18 months; how do we address long-term health care labor shortages; and, how do we bridge the communication gap between the University of Hawaii and health care providers?

Hardway said the grant helps open the door for additional federal funding, and assists prior efforts under way to address health care work force issues. The grant is part of $253 million designated under the federal health care reform bill to address nationwide shortages of primary care providers. Nationwide, the grant program is expected to train 889 primary care providers. While the Hawaii grant will be used to address wider labor issues, Hardway said primary care is one component.