By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A ribbon cutting has finally been held for the Center for Excellence in Applied Healthcare Learning on the Missouri Western State University campus.
COVID-19 delayed the ceremony, but officials say the coronavirus pandemic only emphasizes its need.
Interim Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy tells an audience gathered on the St. Joseph campus the center will train nurses in the latest healthcare techniques.
“We’ve been able to expand and enhance our simulation lab space insuring that Missouri Western’s education and training programs are responsive to our workforce needs, both now and in the future,” Kennedy says.
Gov. Mike Parson, making his first public appearance since quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19, points out a joint effort provided the money for the center.
“If you put the powers of the state of the government and you put the education community, K through 12, high school, community colleges, and you throw the private sector in there and you’re all on the same page, I guarantee you this state will be successful,” according to Parson.
Missouri Western received a $550,000 MoExcels Workforce Initiative grant from the state with the Missouri Western Foundation and Mosaic Life Care also contributing.
Mosaic President, Dr. Mark Laney, tells those gathered for the ribbon cutting that in today’s climate, a local effort must be undertaken to train the healthcare workers it needs.
“We know that nationwide it really is difficult to attract healthcare workers here,” Laney says. “It is our task to be more creative and more innovative to attract and retain the best and brightest youth to our area to serve our populations.”
Parson, who had his own bout with COVID-19 after First Lady Teresa Parson contracted the disease, says the coronavirus pandemic only emphasizes the need for a center which trains nurses.
“If there ever was a time to have an institution like this, a training center like this, it is now,” Parson says. “When you look at our healthcare workers across the state of Missouri…for most of us, we’ve had time to get our second wind (for lack of) a better term, those healthcare workers have been on the front line now for eight months with no relief.”
The total cost of the Center for Excellence was $1.14 million. Missouri Western says it has allowed the university to add 20 nursing students, bringing the total number of nursing students on campus to more than 200. The university hopes to graduate approximately 120 nursing students a year.
Construction of the center was completed in March and has already hosted training sessions. COVID-19 restrictions this spring canceled the earlier scheduled ribbon cutting.