---
title: HR 1654. Georgia's medical schools; prioritize patient-centered care; urge
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1654
cite_as: HR 1654, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1654
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1654.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1654/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74007
date: 2026-03-16
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 132
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1654.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1654
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-10
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Robert Flournoy
  - Michelle Au
  - Park Cannon
  - Shea Roberts
  - Tangie Herring
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1654/2025
upstream_id: 2132159
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - maternal health
  - medical education
  - patient-centered care
  - health care quality
  - University of Georgia School of Medicine
---

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

## Text

House Resolution 1654
By: Representatives Flournoy of the 74th, Au of the 50th, Cannon of the 58th, Roberts of the
52nd, and Herring of the 145th
A RESOLUTION
Urging Georgia's medical schools to prioritize patient-centered care; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the
United States, with preventable pregnancy-related deaths linked to gaps in access, quality,
communication, and continuity of care; and
WHEREAS, improving access to timely, continuous, and high-quality maternal health care
during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period is recognized as a critical strategy
for reducing severe maternal complications and preventing maternal deaths; and
WHEREAS, patient-centered care is defined as care that places an individual's specific health
needs, preferences, values, and desired outcomes at the center of clinical decision making
and quality measurement; and
WHEREAS, strengthening patient-centered maternity care practices that prioritize
communication, access to supportive services, continuity of care, and responsiveness to
patient concerns can help reduce preventable pregnancy-related deaths across Georgia; and
WHEREAS, patient-centered care requires collaborative decision making, full and timely
information sharing, respect for patients' experience and background, and inclusion of
patients and families as active members of the care team; and
WHEREAS, empathy and effective communication are foundational components of
patient-centered care and are associated with improved patient satisfaction, stronger
treatment adherence, better clinical outcomes, and improved trust in the health care system;
and
WHEREAS, patient-centered, respectful maternity care applies these established health care
quality principles specifically to pregnancy and childbirth by promoting trust, informed
choice, protection of patient; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of the new University of Georgia School of Medicine
represents a historic investment in expanding Georgia's physician workforce and improving
access to care, particularly in underserved and rural communities; and
WHEREAS, aligning medical education with patient-centered care standards ensures that the
next generation of Georgia physicians is trained not only in clinical excellence but also in
communication, trust-building, informed consent, and culturally responsive care, thereby
advancing health system quality and public health outcomes statewide.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body urge all Georgia's medical schools to teach patient-centered care
that includes shared decision making, informed consent, and transparent communication;
incorporates respectful maternity care practices, communication training, and clinical
training; and promotes evidence-based education on bias and accountability mechanisms
within clinical training and practice settings to reduce disparities in treatment and outcomes
and to strengthen trust between patients and providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body encourage licensed health care
facilities and medical education institutions across Georgia to implement trauma-informed
training and communication standards for all clinical and nonclinical personnel who interact
with patients.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution urges the state's medical schools to teach patient-centered care, including shared decision making and respectful maternity practices, to help address Georgia's maternal mortality rate.

### Plain-language summary

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.

### What it does

- 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.

### Who it affects

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.

### Why it matters

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.

### Key provisions

- 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.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-03-10)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-03-16)
- Sponsors: Robert Flournoy, Michelle Au, Park Cannon, Shea Roberts, Tangie Herring
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74007

> The history, votes, and amendments (132 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1654.md?full=1