HJR 369

HJR369 192980-2 By Representatives Gaston, Buskey, Bracy, Baker, Shiver, Drummond, Clarke, Beech, Faust, Williams (JW), Wilcox, Sessions and Jackson RFD: Rules First Read: 08-MAR-18 HJR369 ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution, RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA HEALTH SYSTEM AND SUPPORTING ITS CONTINUED EFFORTS IN OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE UPPER GULF COAST. WHEREAS, the University of South Alabama Health system is unique among all health care organizations along the Gulf Coast in its tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical care; and WHEREAS, USA Health includes USA Medical Center, an acute care medical facility with the region's only Level trauma center and burn center; USA Children's and Women's Hospital, one of five freestanding hospitals nationwide dedicated to the care of children and women; USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, an academic research and cancer treatment facility; and USA Physicians Group, the Gulf Coast's largest multi-specialty practice; and WHEREAS, within its hospitals and clinics are important services that also provide economic development opportunities to the residents of southwest Alabama and the upper Gulf Coast, including Mississippi and Florida; and WHEREAS, the services provided within USA Health are important to the economic development efforts of the upper HJR369 Gulf Coast in that companies want and need the unique services offered; and WHEREAS, USA Health's mission of helping people lead longer, better lives includes serving as a safety net health system to provide lifesaving care to the residents of southwest Alabama and the upper Gulf Coast; and WHEREAS, USA Health operates the region's only neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, Level 1 trauma center, and academic-based cancer treatment and research center; and WHEREAS, these specialized and unique services are critical to the well-being of Alabamians and the safety net health system for the underserved; and WHEREAS, the USA Children's and Women's Hospital is the region's leader in deliveries at more than 2,700 births annually; and WHEREAS, the Pediatric Emergency Department of the USA Children's and Women's Hospital sees more than 40,000 patients annually; and WHEREAS, the USA Children's and Women's Hospital Hollis J. Wiseman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has been recently recognized as having one of the best survivability rates for extremely premature births in the nation; and WHEREAS, the USA Medical Center Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center was recently ranked Number 1 in America HJR369 for patient outcomes, a distinction it has held many times; and WHEREAS, the USA Trauma Center continues to rank among the best in the nation, with the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program noting that it ranks in the top 10 percent in the country in reducing the risk of a major complication, including death, and a patient is 30 percent more likely to survive a traumatic event with care received at USA; and WHEREAS, these specialized lifesaving services could not exist were it not for the academic mission of the University of South Alabama; and WHEREAS, this high level of care is a tribute to the more than 3,800 dedicated employees at USA Health; and WHEREAS, USA Health provides a combined annual economic impact of almost $800 million to Alabama and its residents; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the University of South Alabama, USA Health, and their dedicated employees be recognized for the contributions made to the health and well-being of the residents of Alabama. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we support the furtherance of the mission of USA Health as it seeks to educate the next generation of providers, continues its HJR369 research for the next generation of clinical cures, and treats all patients of southwest Alabama through its unique, high-quality services. HJR369 Speaker of the House of Representatives President and Presiding Officer of the Senate House of Representatives I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and was adopted by the House 15-MAR-18. Jeff Woodard Clerk Senate 20-MAR-18 Adopted