HR 1654: Georgia's medical schools; prioritize patient-centered care; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law. It expresses the House's position that medical schools in Georgia should prioritize patient-centered care, meaning care that puts a patient's needs, preferences, and desired outcomes at the center of clinical decisions. The resolution points to Georgia's high maternal mortality rate and links it to gaps in access, communication, and continuity of care. It urges medical schools to teach shared decision making, informed consent, transparent communication, respectful maternity care, and evidence-based training on bias and accountability. It also encourages licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions to adopt trauma-informed training and communication standards for clinical and nonclinical staff. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press, but it contains no mandates, funding, or enforcement mechanisms.

• Urges all Georgia medical schools to teach patient-centered care, including shared decision making, informed consent, and transparent communication.
• Urges medical schools to incorporate respectful maternity care practices and communication training into clinical education.
• Urges evidence-based education on bias and accountability mechanisms in clinical training to reduce treatment disparities.
• Encourages licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions to adopt trauma-informed training for all staff who interact with patients.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

Georgia's medical schools, including the new University of Georgia School of Medicine, along with licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions statewide. It also concerns pregnant patients and new mothers, since much of the resolution focuses on maternal health care.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia law, it carries no legal requirement. Its practical effect depends on whether medical schools and health facilities voluntarily adopt the training and communication practices it describes, which the resolution ties to reducing preventable maternal deaths in Georgia.

• The preamble cites Georgia's high maternal mortality rate and links it to gaps in access, quality, communication, and continuity of care.
• The first resolving clause urges medical schools to teach shared decision making, informed consent, and transparent communication.
• The same clause urges incorporation of respectful maternity care practices and bias/accountability training into clinical education.
• A second resolving clause encourages trauma-informed training and communication standards at licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions.
• A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-03-16House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-12House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-10House Hopper (House)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)
• Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)

• maternal health
• medical education
• patient-centered care
• health care quality
• University of Georgia School of Medicine