Lansing-area hospitals are making an effort to encourage MSU medical students to remain in the tri-county area with job opportunities.
Increasing field experience for nursing students, changing curriculum for physician residents and jointly hiring medical specialists were several goals discussed in a recent series of meetings between MSU and Lansing-area hospitals.
"We look forward to working together to ensure excellent health care for the people of Mid-Michigan," said Lorri Rishar, spokeswoman for Lansing's Sparrow Hospital.
Members of the College of Human Medicine, the College of Nursing and the College of Osteopathic Medicine met with officials from Sparrow Hospital and Ingham Regional Medical Center for several months and are scheduled to continue conferences during the school year.
The objectives are meant to address problems, such as the nursing shortage, that are facing Michigan health care.
The College of Nursing, the Career Ladder Nursing Program at Lansing Community College and area hospitals agreed to ensure job placements in the medical community after graduation.
"It should go a long way to keeping nurses in the area - with any luck, they will take up residence here long-term and keep working in this community," said Sherry Tompkins, spokeswoman for the College of Human Medicine.
Nursing junior Kathi Padilla said she thinks the new partnership is a good idea and will further her education.
Currently, there is little communication between clinical sites and professors, but a closer partnership might amend this problem, Padilla said.
"Sometimes, you walk into the hospitals for the clinicals and they don't have any idea what level you're on - they will either not trust you to do anything or expect too much and give you assignments above your head," she said.
Measures have been taken to alter the current community-campus education model for medical students.
"I wouldn't say there are problems, but (the schools) know there can be changes in the current model," Tompkins said. "We will continue to refine the model to maximize the strengths of each hospital."
Physician residents now will be able to rotate throughout the different hospitals in the areas according to the strengths each medical facility offers.
By providing a more thorough education, hospitals hope to keep well-trained medical staff in the community.
Since 1990, 379 physician graduates from the College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine have remained in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.
"With Sparrow, MSU and Ingham Regional working together, we have a great opportunity to ensure that we are recruiting and retaining quality physicians in the region," Rishar said.
