College of Health Sciences Fundraising
Artist Rendition of Misericordia's new College of Health Sciences building
Misericordia University is gearing up to address the shortage of health care professionals in Pennsylvania. According to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, there are currently 3,620 positions open in the fields of nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and medical imaging. These shortages are anticipated to grow 15 to 20 percent annually in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through 2020. This crisis is particularly acute in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where the average age exceeds the national
average by almost seven years.
A HISTORY OF EXPERTISE IN HEALTH CARE
The College of Health Sciences is the largest of the university’s three colleges. Today, 41 percent of Misericordia’s full-time student body and 30 percent of its part-time and graduate student body are enrolled in the health science programs; 34 percent of the university’s alumni have graduated with health science degrees.
Misericordia’s growth over the last decade has drained every existing and planned resource on campus. Currently the space limitations of Misericordia’s health science facilities hamper future growth. This is particularly true as we gear up to educate additional regional health care professionals and meet the increasing societal demand for low-cost clinical services.
Therefore, Misericordia University is undertaking fundraising effort to purchase, renovate and convert the nearby Commonwealth Telephone building into a handicapped-accessible, multi-purpose community resource that will house health science majors and low-cost community clinics in the University’s newly organized College of Health Sciences. This project includes the construction of offices, classrooms, laboratories and clinical space.
The new facility will support increased student enrollment, advances in health care technology, and additional community clinics. In addition, the new facility will enable the College of Health Sciences to address issues related to reducing costs in health care delivery, improving access to health care, and meeting workforce needs.
SERVICE FOR THOSE IN NEED
Within Misericordia University’s new College of Health Science specialized health care education and services will be provided. Numerous low to moderate income individuals from throughout Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania will benefit from medical screenings by the Nursing Department and stroke/accident victim treatments and education programs by Occupational and Physical Therapy professionals. Speech Language Pathology professionals will also provide clinical health services conducive to the therapeutic needs of children ages 3-7 with communication disorders and adults recovering from stroke. Additional clinical health services in physical and occupational therapy are also in the planning stages.
The percentage of citizens living in poverty in Luzerne County is 33 percent higher than the Pennsylvania state average and is the fifth highest in the state. In 2006, 22 percent of Luzerne County children were listed by the Census Department as living below the poverty level. Equally dramatic is the county’s concentration of the elderly. In 2006, 18 percent of the county’s population was 65 years and older, three percent higher than the state average and nearly 50 percent higher than the national percentage.
Clearly many families and particularly many senior citizens who live on fixed incomes will benefit from the low-cost, high-quality services of the University’s health care clinics. Because Misericordia is the only institution in the region offering low cost, and in many cases, no cost, diagnosis and treatment, it is expected to become Luzerne County’s destination for these services for those in need. The programs operate with referrals, and therefore, are not competing with services provided by the private sector.
Misericordia is annually recognized by prestigious national publications. U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review have routinely ranked the university among the best in the Northeastern United States.
Campaign Phase I Goal: $5,600,000
Raised to Date: $5,180,000
For more information about the College of Health Sciences Fundraising Campaign contact Sue Helwig shelwig@misericordia.edu
Updated 10-5-09
