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How bad is Hawaii’s doctor shortage?

By Staff | Sep 23, 2022

Hawaii has a severe doctor shortage. Find out how bad it is and what we can do about it at an event on Tuesday, Sept. 27, sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

The event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The $10 admission includes lunch and parking.

Special guests will be Dr. Scott Grosskreutz, a diagnostic radiology specialist and founder of the Hawaii Physician Shortage Crisis Task Force; Lisa Rantz, executive director of the Hilo Medical Center Foundation and president of the Hawaii State Rural Health Association; and Dr. Elizabeth Ignacio, an interventional radiologist who practices throughout the state.

According to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, “The three will talk about why doctors, nurses and other medical professionals have found Hawaii to be a difficult place to practice, and why they have been leaving the islands in droves in past years or not coming to Hawaii to begin with.

“Will 2023 be the year our political leaders step up to the plate and do something about it? More important, what could they do to help revive Hawaii’s ailing healthcare system? Reduce taxes? Allow state licensure reciprocity or recognition? Appeal to the federal government to adjust Medicare payments? Repeal Hawaii’s protectionist certificate-of-need laws? Authorize expanded telehealth services? Make housing more affordable so health professionals can afford to live here? Any or all of the above? Or what else?”

To register, go to https://www.grassrootinstitute.org and click on Events. For more information, contact Melissa Rabideau at (808) 762-6897 or info@GrassrootInstitute.org.