University of Missouri Health Affairs Committee discusses the future of operations
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri Health Affairs Committee met to discuss the future of its operations on Thursday.
The Board spoke about staffing shortages, plans to open clinics and urgent cares in rural areas, and updates on it's Children's hospital integration.
Chief Financial Officer Kay Davis said that they are short 240 nurses, and they will likely continue to face a staffing shortage.
"We are not graduating enough student's in any environment for them to offset the shortage," Davis said. "That the shortage will continue to be "an ongoing issue for the next several years."
The board's strategy to combat the staff unprecedented shortages is to increase the pay of it's staff to stay competitive and to increase its full-time employee's from 80 to 220.
The Board also plans on expanding it's rural health care. In the wake of Noble Health closing its Audrain County Hospital, the curators plan to open a new clinic in the area.
"So we will have a significant presence in Mexico, and in Audrain County moving forward" said UM's Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Curtright. They will also be opening a Mizzou Urgent Care in Mexico as well, and will staff the location with former Noble Health nurses, healthcare providers, and support staff.
The Board also reported that they have made progress toward's moving it's Children's Hospital as apart of it's Clinical Campus Integration. It has already added 45 new beds, and the board say's that they have the potential to ass more in the future.
The Children's Hospital is on track, and on budget, and is set to open June of 2024.
