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State to up funding to increase number of helthcare workers

Georgia’s effort to meet a growing shortage of healthcare workers received a “booster shot” with the announcement today by University System of Georgia (USG) officials of the distribution of $3.8 million, $2.05 million in state funding and $1.75 million in private funding, to continue increasing the production of allied-health professionals statewide. As was the case with the first phase, Clayton College & State University and several healthcare providers in Clayton, Henry, Fayette and Fulton counties will be an integral part of the initiative.

It is projected that the new funding for Phase Two will add more than 700 nurses and other highly trained specialists to the state’s healthcare industry, joining the 600-plus already graduated from or currently enrolled in, the two-year-old program. A total of 60 Georgians will complete Clayton State’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in Fiscal Year 2005 and Fiscal Year 2006 through this program. These 60 graduates will be placed through hiring commitments by partners Fayette Community Hospital, Grady Health System, Henry Medical, Piedmont Medical Center, Southern Regional Medical Center and Tenet Healthcare Corp. Kaiser Permanente is also a partner with Clayton State in this initiative.

The program is administered through the Board of Regents’ Intellectual Capital Partnership Program®, or ICAPP®. Named the ICAPP® Health Professionals Initiative (HPI), it matches private sector healthcare providers with USG colleges and universities to create programs that are producing fast-track graduates in the fields of nursing, medical technology and pharmacy. The initiative uses ICAPP’s® proven model that meets the “just-in-time-needs” of the state’s business community.

Phase One of the initiative resulted in 632 additional new licensed healthcare professionals being produced through customized University System “fast-track programs” Ð far exceeding the original goal of 500 new graduates. Phase Two of the Health Professionals Initiative will use the same structure as Phase One, leveraging the $3.8 million state commitment with $3.2 million in cash and in-kind support from 26 private employer partners charged with guaranteeing the program graduates jobs. Twelve University System institutions, including Clayton State, will be the partners in Phase Two and will graduate an additional 721 healthcare professionals over the two-year effort.

“The ICAPP® Health Professionals Initiative is proof positive of what can be achieved when we mobilize strong public-private partnerships to tackle a problem,” said University System Chancellor Dr. Thomas C. Meredith. “We responded efficiently and quickly and the result will mean better healthcare for Georgians.”

Phase One of the Initiative was a $6.75 million public/private partnership between Georgia healthcare providers and the University System. Thirteen University System institutions worked with medical providers in 19 Georgia communities. Many of the colleges and universities and private sector employers involved in Phase One will continue similar programs in Phase Two.

A total of 40 Clayton State Nursing graduates are projected to be placed by Phase One by the time that part of the project concludes at the end of the spring 2005 semester. One of those students, Adonness Amon, was present at today’s USG announcement.

Dr. Lisa Eichelberger, professor of Nursing, is Clayton State’s contact for the ICAPP® Health Professionals Initiative. She can be reached at (770) 961-3431. The contacts for Clayton State’s partners are as follows;

Fayette Community Hospital, Ryan Duffy, director of Community Relations, 770-719-7076