Rumors & Third-Hand Reports: SE Missouri schools expanding programs for health professionals

Lt. Gov Peter Kinder and House Budget Chair/State Auditor hopeful Allen Icet would love it if Missourians completely forgot about their disastrous press conference from two weeks ago, in which Kinder and Icet cited "rumors" and "third-hand reports" of public universities and colleges being "extorted" to expand their offerings for health care professionals.

In the press conference Kinder said, "I have no proof of [my allegations] or first-hand knowledge."  He also said, per The Star, "he hadn't contacted any university administrators about the issue and didn't believe it was part of his 'due diligence' to check with them."

If he had bothered to call any of them -- even the ones in his own backyard -- he might have saved himself some embarrassment and learned about things like this (from today's Southeast Missourian):

With the aid of federal stimulus dollars, Southeast Missouri State University is starting an accelerated nursing program to increase the number of health-care professionals in the region....

The university will use its $1,172,210 to start the accelerated nursing program, expand the family nurse practitioner program and renovate its simulation lab.

The accelerated program is open to students with a bachelor's degree in any field.

"I think it really fulfills a niche for people, and they don't have to go four years to do it," [Nursing Dept. Chair Dr. Marcia] Hobbs said.

Kinder and Icet might also have learned about this program Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff...

Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., will receive more than $360,000 under the initiative. Three Rivers president Joe Rozman said the college will expand its nursing program to include 18 more students. He said the program currently has 120 students. To accommodate additional students at clinical sites, he said, the university will have to build relationships with more hospitals.

...or this program at Mineral Area College.

Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., will receive more than $330,000. Mineral Area president Dr. Steven Kurtz said the money will fit into the college's 10-year capital plan. He said the college is planning a $7 million expansion project aimed at adding space for health-care programs, science labs and student service areas.

"I would be surprised if there were a community college out there that's not looking at expanding allied medical health," he said.

Once additional facilities are in place, he said, the school will look at expanding paramedic, nursing and radiologic technology programs. He said he is not concerned about the short-term funds because plans were already in motion to increase health-care training at the college.

"We'll plan around that," he said. "We'll work around funding from the state."

Maybe Kinder and Icet could host another conference call for the press to talk it over?