♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WHILE THE TOOLS TO CARE FOR OUR SICK ARE EVER EXPANDING AND IMPROVING, UNFORTUNATELY THE WORKFORCE TO PROVIDE THE CARE IS NOT KEEPING PACE.

STAY WITH US AS WE TALK WITH BART DARRELL, CHANCELLOR OF HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO INCREASE THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE HERE IN KENTUCKY NEXT ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY >> with those of us who are fans o >> FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE FANS OF ROAD RACING AND IN PARTICULAR NASCAR, AND YES, I AM ONE, WE MARVEL AT THE ARTISTRY AND SKILL WITH WHICH THE DRIVERS MANEUVER THEIR CARS AT BREAK NECK SPEEDS; HOWEVER, AS MUCH CREDIT AS THE DRIVER DESERVES, TOO MANY WATCHING FORGET THAT THE DRIVER IS BUT THE TIP AND MOST VISIBLE PART OF THE TEAM.

I, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CARS, REALIZE THAT THE PIT CREW, NOT FOR WHAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE DONE, BUT RATHER FOR HOW WELL THEY DID PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE AS MUCH AND MAYBE GREATER DETERMINANT OF THE OUTCOME THAN SOME DRIVERS ARE WILLING TO ADMIT.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE IS A TEAM SPORT.

PHYSICIANS AND NURSES ARE THE MOST VISIBLE MEMBERS BUT THEY, WHETHER DOCS LIKE ME WANT TO ADMIT IT, ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE ANCILLARY STAFF WITH WHOM WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING.

WE ARE FACING HEALTHCARE SHORTAGES POST IMPORTANTLY AT ANCILLARY AND AUXILLARY LEVELS.

THAT IMPACTS THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF CARE THAT WE RECEIVE AND BY INFERENCE, OUR HEALTH STATUS.

TO SHED LIGHT ON HOW THIS IMPENDING CRISIS WILL AFFECT US AND THE STEPS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN TO CORRECT IT, WE HAVE AS OUR GUEST Mr. BART DARREL, GRADUATE OF KENTUCKY WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF LAW.

HE HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS A TRIAL ATTORNEY.

HE WAS HONORED WITH INDUCTION AS A FELLOW IN THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS AND A VERY LONG, LONG TIME AGO WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION AS THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER PROBABLY WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE LAWYER AROUND.

HE HAS BEEN CHAIR OF THE GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CHAIR OF THE SOUTHERN KENTUCKY PERFORMING ARTS BOARD IN BOWLING GREEN.

BOARD MEMBER OF THE BOWLING GREEN WARREN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MEMBER AND VICE CHAIR OF KENTUCKY'S COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.

HE RETURNED TO HIS ALMA MATER AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF KENTUCKY WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY FROM 2013 TO 2019 CURRENTLY HE AND GERMANE TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION, HE IS CHANCELLOR OF HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY.

BART, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I COULDN'T RESIST THE DIG, YOU BEING AN OUTSTANDING YOUNG... >> SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY YOU SCWHR.

THAT SEEMS LIKE AN HONOR.

>> AS YOU SAID, EVERYTHING IS A TEAM SPORT.

>> BUT STILL, TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO... TELL ME ABOUT THIS CRISIS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

IS IT REAL OR SOMETHING THAT IS ONLY IMAGINED?

>> IT'S REAL AND IT'S A CRISIS.

IT'S BEEN COMING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

AND OF COURSE THE COVID EPISODE AND THE YEARS WHEN IT REALLY HIT , EXACERBATED A PROBLEM.

IT DIDN'T CREATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT SURE DID EXACERBATE IT.

SO THERE ARE SHORTAGES NOT JUST HERE IN KENTUCKY OR IN THE REGION AND WHAT I CALL MIDWEST KENTUCKY WHERE HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY PRINCIPALLY RESIDES BUT IT'S A NATIONAL AND GLOBAL THING THAT WE CANNOT IGNORE.

>> SO IS THAT SOMETHING THOUGH FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE WESTERN PART, AS FAR AS PADUCAH.

PIKEVILLE TO PADUCAH, WE ARE GOING TO RUN INTO THE SAME THING.

>> SMALLEST AREAS TO THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF KENTUCKY, SAME ISSUE.

>> HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS SPOT?

YOU MENTIONED COVID BUT THINGS WERE GOING DOWNHILL PRIOR TO THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THINGS RUN IN CYCLE AND WILL YOU HAVE PHASES IN EVERY PROFESSION WHERE THERE IS A BIGGER TYPE LINE THAT COMES IN.

SOMETIMES IT GETS SMALLER.

YOU LOOK AT YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS, LOOK AT YOUR AGING OF YOUR POPULATION.

WHAT IS COMING UP IN THE PIPELINE AGE WISE AND WHO IS ENROLLED IN WHAT PROGRAMMING.

AND THEN YOU BRING IN OR BABY BOOMERS ARE RETIRING NOW MORE AND MORE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THEY'RE RETIRING.

AND THEN WHEN COVID HIT, WE SAW A GREATER EXODUS FROM THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS.

YOU KNOW, COVID HIT EVERYBODY FROM STUDENTS TO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT NOBODY GOT HIT HARDER THAN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS BECAUSE THE DEMANDS PUT ON THOSE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WERE SOME THINGS NONE OF US WILL EVER TRULY UNDERSTAND PHYSICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND OTHERWISE.

SO WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE.

AND, BECAUSE OF HOW HARD SOME OF THOSE JOBS WERE IN THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT CAUSED SOME PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO GET INTO THOSE PROFESSIONS.

SO FIRST THING WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS POPULAR AND COOL AGAIN TO BE IN HEALTHCARE.

GIVE IT A PURPOSE AGAIN.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS DIFFICULT, BUT YET IT IS ONE OF THE-- I AM SURE AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING CAREERS THAT ONE CAN INVOLVE THEMSELVES.

IS IT SOMETHING WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THE VARIOUS CAREERS THAT ARE WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?

>> I THINK EDUCATION IN WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE, WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, ALWAYS GOING TO BE FRONT BURNER FOR US.

BUT YOU ARE CORRECT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OR WHAT THE PATH IS TO GET THERE, TO BE A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL AND COMMIT YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO, AS YOU HAVE DONE, THANK YOU FOR THAT, TO MAKING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR COMMUNITY BETTER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME OR ALL THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME ALL THROUGH MY HEALTHCARE CAREER.

TO THAT POINT, WHAT IS HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY AND HOW DOES IT COME ABOUT?

>> HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY, FIRST OF ALL, IS A TRUE COLLABORATION.

THAT'S THE TERM WE THROW AROUND A LOT WITH WE HOPE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF NINE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

AND I WOULD CALL IT-- THAT ARE SERVING IN MIDWEST KENTUCKY I WOULD CALL IT, FROM ELIZABETHTOWN ALL THE WAY TO UNION COUNTY WEST TO LOGAN COUNTY AND BUTLER COUNTY IN THE SOUTH.

THE UNIVERSITIES, POSTSECONDARY UNIVERSITIES INVOLVED, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE NURSING PROGRAM BASED IN OWENSBORO KENTUCKY, THAT'S WHERE HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY IS CENTERED.

WESTERN KENTUCKY'S NURSING PROGRAM, SAME REASON.

THEN THERE IS KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL AND WAS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND WHERE I'M CURRENTLY PRESIDENT EMERITUS.

AND BRUSHY UNIVERSITY WHICH IS A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL IN OWENSBORO KENTUCKY AND THEN FIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, MEMBERS OF OUR KCTCS SYSTEM.

HOPKINSVILLE, MADISON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, HENDERSON AND OWENSBORO AND ELIZABETH TOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

AND THEN THEY WORK WITH 16 COUNTIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW IS, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A REAL SEAMLESS EDUCATION-- AGAIN, WHICH WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, BUT SEAMLESS EDUCATION.

BUT WE ARE-- OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THESE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS IN OUR P-12 SYSTEMS TRULY WORKING TOGETHER TO WIDEN THE PATHWAYS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS THAT THESE PATHWAYS THAT EXIST NOW AND/OR CREATE NEW PADS WAYS AS THE MARKET IS DEMANDING.

SO WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS NOW.

WE HAVE BECOME A LEGAL ENTITY, 501 C 501c3 CORPORATION IN DECEMBER OF 2022 AND WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF I WOULD SAY.

AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE EVERYBODY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT IS COMING AND I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT BOTH THOSE THINGS.

>> SO ARE YOU A SCHOOL OR CONDUIT OR WHAT IS IT?

>> WE ARE NOT A SCHOOL.

WE DO NOT GIVE DIFFICULT DIPLOMA AS.

WE DO NOT DIFFICULT DEGREES.

WHAT WE DO BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE LOVED THE IDEA THAT WAS REALLY ENVISIONED BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE, MARK MARSH, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF OWENSBORO HEALTH IS ONE OF THE VISIONARIES AT THE FRONT END OF THIS, Dr. SCOTT WILLIAMS WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE OWENSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS AND SOME REPRESENTATIVES LIKE REPRESENTATIVE SUZANNE MILES FROM THE DAVIESS COUNTY AREA IN OWENSBORO, THEY ALL STARTED TALKING, A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, LET'S CREATE THIS INNOVATION CENTER.

AND NOT TO GIVE DIPLOMAS OR DEGREES, NOT TO TEACH CLASSES NECESSARILY, BUT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND HELP PULL TOGETHER ALL THESE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS TO SAY LOOK, WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.

WE CAN SHARE RESOURCES.

WE CAN SHARE OUR PEOPLE, OUR HUMAN CAPITAL.

WE CAN OFFER CLASSES THAT MAYBE DON'T EXIST IN CERTAIN RURAL AREAS BUT WE CAN GET THAT TOGETHER; FOR EXAMPLE, HENDERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS A VERY GOOD LAB MEDICAL TECH PROGRAM.

THAT SAME PROGRAM DOESN'T GO IN OWENSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS.

IT WOULD COST MANY YEARS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CREATE A NEW ACCREDITED PROGRAM IN OWENSBORO FOR THAT.

WHY NOT CREDIT A COHORT FROM HENDERSON, PUT IT IN OWENSBORO, SHARE IN THE FACULTY AND THE RESOURCES AND WHY THE EDUCATIONAL-- WIDEN THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND SAIMENT REDUCE THE COSTS.

THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF A TRUE COLLABORATION.

>> IN THAT CASE, YOU ARE TRYING NOT TO REINVENT THE WHEEL BUT TAKE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND INVOLVE ANOTHER GROUP WITH IT.

>> TAKE WHAT PEOPLE DO BEST AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

WE SHOULDN'T EVER BE A THREAT TO EACH OTHER.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS KENTUCKY THING, IN THIS HEALTHCARE THING TOGETHER.

>> BUT YOU GET KIDS PREKINDERGARTEN OR... UP TO GRADUATION AND HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN INTO COLLEGE OR ADULTS?

>> CURIOUS PEOPLE-- WHEN CURIOUS PEOPLE SOLVE THE WORD'S GREAT PROBLEMS.

WE WANT TO CREATE CURIOSITY IN THE SCIENCES, THE HEALTHCARE AT THE EARLIEST PAGES POSSIBLE.

SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID, WE WILL HAVE AN ACTUAL INNOVATION CENTER, WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW IN OWENSBORO.

BUT WE KNEW-- WE UNDERSTOOD KENTUCKY.

WE UNDERSTOOD OUR REGION.

THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT TWO MOBILE SIMULATION LABORATORIES THAT ARE 53 FEET LONG, EXPAND OUT TO 24 FEET WIDE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A BIG, BIG BUS.

>> YOU GOT IT MY FRIEND.

IT'S A SEMI, AND IT WE CALL THEM HEALTH FORCE 1 AND HEALTH FORCE 2.

GET IT?

AND HEALTH FORCE 1 WENT INTO OPERATION OCTOBER OF 2023: HEALTH FORCE 2 JUST WENT INTO OPERATION A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

BUT IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE WENT OUT IN OUR RURAL AREAS OF OUR FOOTPRINT, THAT 16-COUNTY FOOTPRINT WITH HIGH TECH VERY IMMERSION VIRTUAL REALITY IMMERSION ROOMS.

WE HAD ALMOST 9,000 INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES IN ONE YEAR, EXPOSING THEM TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS AND EDUCATION.

SO I HAVE THIS DONE SEPTEMBER, WAYNE, THAT-- I HAVE THIS CONCEPT WAYNE, YOU CAN GOOGLE IT BUT YOU WON'T FIND IT BECAUSE IT'S MADE UP.

IT'S CALLED CULTURAL LOGISTICS OF KENTUCKY.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT IT MIGHT BE AN HOUR FROM OWE OWENS OWENSBORO KENTUCKY TO WEBSTER COUNTY, BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY.

WE LIKE WHERE WE COME FROM.

SO IT MIGHT BE AN HOUR DRIVE THERE.

BUT TO SOME, IT'S THREE DAYS BY STAGE COACH.

SO WE DON'T-- WE ARE NOT CRITICAL OF THAT.

THAT'S WHO WE ARE.

WE LOVE IT.

SO WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT?

WE TAKE OUR MOBILE SIMULATION LABS AND WE GO TO THE PEOPLE.

AND WE GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE SOME OF THE BEST JOBS AND SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NEEDS IN HEALTHCARE IN A COMMUNITY, THEY'RE IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE IN OUR SMALLEST OR OUR LARGEST IN LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND SO IF WE CAN TRAIN MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE JOBS, IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN THESE COMMUNITIES, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE ARE NOT JUST IMPROVING HEALTHCARE.

WE ARE ALSO RAISING THE MEDIAN INCOMES IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

RAISING THE EDUCATIONAL LEVELS IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHICH RAISES CULTURAL AWARENESS, MAKES US HEALTHIER, NO THE JUST OUR PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH BUT OUR ECONOMIC HEALTH.

>> SO ARE YOU TYING IN THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> YES.

THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

>> HOW IS THAT?

>> WELL, YOU CAN HIRE ALL THE BRILLIANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS YOU WANT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD ONES OUT THERE.

BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THESE TWO PILLARS TO WORK WITH, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS WILL FAIL.

I BELIEVE THAT TO BE A FACT.

AND SO WE SEE ALL OF THIS AS GOING HAND IN HAND AND HAND IN GLOVE AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE KENTUCKY BETTER.

>> TELL ME HOW HOSPITALS-- I KNOW YOU MENTIONED OWENSBORO, BUT HOW DO HOSPITALS AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS WORK WITH YOU BECAUSE IT SEEMS IF ANYBODY NEEDS THE WORKERS, THEY'RE THE ONES.

>> WE WORK-- THEY'RE OUR PARTNERS, TOO, WHETHER IT BE OWENSBORO HEALTH IN OUR AREA OR BAPTIST OR, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE -- THE NURSING HOMES, OUR BOARD HAS SOMEBODY FROM THE NURSING HOMES ASSOCIATION ON IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IN A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE THE SAME NEEDS.

SO THEY ARE THE DRIVING PART OF THIS.

THEY TELL US WHAT IS THE MARKET AND THEN WE WORK OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS AND TRUE COLLABORATION ARE WORK TOGETHER TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT NEED.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER F. WE DON'T HAVE THIS IN MADISONVILLE, MAYBE HOPKINSVILLE DOES.

HOW DO WE SHARE THAT TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS?

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE.

SO TELL ME.

YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE THE BUS.

HEALTH FORCE 1 AND HEALTH FORCE 2.

WHAT AM I ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE?

WHAT IS A EIGHTH GRADER GOING TO EXPERIENCE WHEN GETTING ON THIS BUS.

>> WELL, WHEN THEY GET ON HEALTH FORCE 1 OR HEALTH FORCE 2, THEY'RE DESIGNED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

LET'S TAKE HEALTH FORCE 1.

YOU CAN GO INTO HEALTH FORCE 1 AND CONVERT IT OVERNIGHT INTO ANY TYPE OF HEALTHCARE TRAINING YOU WANT.

WE MENTIONED IMMERSION ROOM WHERE YOU CAN, A YOUNG PERSON OR AN ADULT CAN GO IN THIS IMMERSION ROOM AND WE CREATE AN EXPERIENCE WITH-- IT'S LOADED WITH 3,000 HEALTHCARE SETTINGS THAT BECOME THE ROOM.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN 3,000 HEALTHCARE SETTINGS?

>> IT COULD BE AN E.R., AN ACCIDENT ON THE STREET WHERE AN EMS?

YOU MEAN A PERSON IS WALKING IN AND YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

IMMERSED IN THIS.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT HAPPEN AROUND YOU AND YOU ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE.

WE CAN ALSO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH.

I CAN COME AND TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN EMERGENCY ROOM, LET'S SAY HERE IN LEXINGTON KENTUCKY, UPLOAD THAT INTO THE IMMERSION ROOM AND YOU ARE LIVE IN IT.

AND SO THE REALLY NEED THING ABOUT THAT-- THE REALLY NEAT THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT I BELIEVE AND WE BELIEVE AT HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY THAT COMFORT BREEDS CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE BREEDS HIGHER PERFORMANCE.

SO WE CAN HELP PEOPLE GET TRAINED NOT JUST IN A SKILL BUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.

SO THE FIRST DAY, YOU KNOW, THE TRUE PATIENT CARE, THEY KNOW WHAT IS OVER IN THAT DRAWER OVER THERE BY THE BED.

SO WE JUST THINK THAT WE ARE THE DEPTH OF TRAINING AND THE CONFIDENCE AND THE COMFORT IS ALL A PIECE OF WHAT WE DO.

THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

WE HAVE 3D VIRTUAL REALITY THAT STUDENTS GET TO LEARN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY WITH.

IT'S OLD SCHOOL IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE GOGGLES ARE AND YOU ARE SEEING THE VIRTUAL REALITY.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.

IT READS YOUR EYES AND YOUR JAW LINE AND YOU CAN PULL WITH, SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PEN, WE CAN PULL OUT THE BRAIN, HEART SCHEDULE SKELETAL STRUCTURE, YOU CAN DISSECT IT, TEST ON IT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER STUDENTS OR TRAINEES ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION.

WE SEE IT IN REAL TIME AND THEN THESE GREAT EDUCATORS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSTSECONDARY AND PRIMARY SECONDARY SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TEACHING, THEIR TEACHING LEVEL BECOMES MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE VALUABLE BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN REAL TIME.

>> HOW DO YOU CHANNEL THIS FOR THAT-- I MEAN THIS IS A GREAT OH WOW, GEE WHIZ, BANG, BANG THING WHEN I GO IN THERE.

>> YEP.

>> THE FIRST TIME.

THE SECOND TIME.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT INTEREST GOING?

HOW DO YOU PLAY DOWN TO THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF STUDENTS THAT YOU HAVE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ADDRESSED EARLY ON.

AT HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY, WHAT WE HAVE, OUR TEAM CONSISTS NOW, IT WENT FROM ME-- I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHEN THIS THING STARTED-- AND NOW WE HAVE A TEAM OF AROUND 15 PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE EXPERTS IN THESE AREAS; FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A SIMULATION DIRECTOR WHO HAS SPENT HIS CAREER IN HEALTHCARE SIMULATIONS.

SO WE HAVE THAT.

BUT TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO YOU KEEP IT-- WE HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THEY'RE PATHWAY SPECIALISTS AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY ARE THE CONNECTORS FROM SAY HIGH SCHOOL IN LOGAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY, TO THE POSTSECONDARY FOLKS.

WE LINE THEM UP AND WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL REALLY WORKING TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH OTHER CAN DO FOR THE OTHER.

WE ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO SPECIALIZES SOLELY IN OUR POETRY SECONDARY-- OPPOSED SECONDARY FOLKS WHERE THIS PERSON COMES IN AND SAYS HERE IS WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

WHAT CAN WE HELP PROVIDE YOU WITH?

AND FOLKS WHO FOCUS ON THE P-12 SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING THINGS AND FASCINATING THINGS ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION IS THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE; FOR EXAMPLE, BRUSHY UNIVERSITY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND WE SAID GIVE US YOUR BIG IDEAS.

LET US TELL YOU IF IT'S DOABLE OR NOT.

WE HAVE RESOURCES IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY HAS ASKED US TO USE TO HELP YOU.

SO BRUSH-UP UNIVERSITY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS SCHOOL THAT NEVER EXISTED.

IT WAS APPROVED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WE WERE ABLE TO FUND THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF FACULTY, THAT KIND OF THING TO GET IT ROLLING AND LIT CASH FLOW ITSELF IN A MATTER OF TWO OR THREE YEARS.

WE HAVE A CRNA PROGRAM, CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESS ADVERTISE THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE IN OUR REGION.

THAT WILL START WITHIN TWO YEARS.

WE HAVE KENTUCKY WEIGHSLYIAN COLLEGE PROPOSED A PROGRAM THAT WE WERE ABLE TO APPROVE AND GIVE THE SEED MONEY FOR.

THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL NEED INTO THE GRADUATE PROGRAMMING.

WE STAY ON TOP WITH OUR PARTNERS.

IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, AS YOU POINTED OUT, KEEP MOMENTUM AND KEEP INTEREST.

>> IS ANY OF THE WORK THAT ONE DOES, DOES A GRANT OR CERTIFICATE OR IN I CREDIT TO AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER IN THE HIGH SCHOOL OR IF THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO GO TO ONE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES?

>> WITH THE INSTITUTIONS THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

NOT FROM US.

WE ARE PROVIDING MORE ASSETS, MORE RESOURCES, MORE HUMAN CAPITAL AND MORE EXPERTISE FOR THE SCHOOLS TO EXPAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND DO IT AT AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT A JOB, WE HAVE TO ASK, WELL, EVERYBODY SAYS HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO GET BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE EXPENSIVE.

SO ARE WE SEEING THE JOBS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT-- AND TELL ME, YOU TALK ABOUT THE CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST.

RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS.

>> PHYSICAL THERAPY, YOU ARE LOOKING AT NURSING, LPN, LAB TECHS, EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.

>> ARE THESE JOBS RELATIVELY GOOD PAYING?

>> YES.

IN MOST OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THE HEALTHCARE JOBS, PARTICULARLY OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, THAT'S SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAYING JOBS YOU ARE GOING TO FIND IN THESE AREAS AND I BELIEVE IN WHAT I LIKE TO REFER TO AS A HOMEGROWN PHILOSOPHY.

I KNOW, BECAUSE I GREW UP IN THIS REGION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND I GREW UP IN KENTUCKY.

I KNOW THE TALENT THAT IS HERE.

THE TALENT IS HERE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET THEM TRAINED AND COMMITTED TO REMAIN HERE?

WE CAN WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY IN NEW YORK OR LOS ANGELES OR ATLANTA OR PHILADELPHIA TRIES TO SOLVE THIS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE, OR WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT OURSELVES.

AND I BELIEVE AND I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR IS PROVING THIS, THAT WE HAVE THE TALENT, WE HAVE THE VISION, AND WE THE COMMITMENT TO DO IT OURSELVES.

>> FROM WHAT YOU SAY, I KNOW THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAM, WE KNOW THAT IF KIDS DO A RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM, THEY TEND TO STAY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

YOU ANTICIPATE THE SAME THING?

THEY WILL STAY IN THESE LOCALES OR WILL THEY MIGRATE TO THE BIG CITIES OF LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE, PA DUKE AS, ET CETERA?

>> THE GOAL HERE IS AS MUCH IS POSSIBLE, WANE, IS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN OUR REALLY TALENTED PEOPLE IN OUR MIDWEST KENTUCKY WITH THE HOPE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE GOING TO STAY HOME.

>> YOU ALLUDED TO A NEW BUILDING.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOKING LIKE.

>> SO EXCITING.

OWENSBORO HEALTH, WITHOUT OWENSBORO HEALTH, THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONATED THE RENOVATION OF 36,000 SQUARE FEET IN A BUILDING THAT IT OWNS.

>> WOW.

>> AND LEASES TO US FOR, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY NEXT TO NOTHING.

AND WE GOT FREE REIGN TO RENOVATE THAT AND TURN IT INTO A HIGH TECH SIMULATION CENTER.

THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION STARTED MONDAY OCTOBER 14.

THEY'RE KNOCKING DOWN WALLS AS YOU AND I ARE SITTING HERE TALKING RIGHT NOW.

AND IT WILL HAVE MULTIPLE IMMERSION ROOMS, CLASSROOMS WITH ALL HIGH TECH ASSETS AND RESOURCES.

WE WILL HAVE A FUNCTIONING LAB IN THERE THAT PEOPLE CAN TRAIN AND THE LAB WILL HAVE A SURGICAL ROOM THAT PEOPLE CAN TRAIN FOR SURGICAL TECHS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO IT IS GOING TO HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF HEALTHCARE CAREER CAN BE TRAINED IN THAT BUILDING.

AND SO ALL OF OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS WILL BE USING THIS, IN ADDITION TO OUR MOBILE SIMULATION LABS.

>> SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

IT'S FASCINATING.

ANYBODY ELSE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE COUNTRY?

>> LOTS OF TIMES YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE-- YOU WILL SEE A UNIVERSITY OR A COLLEGE WORK WITH A HOSPITAL, LET'S SAY; TO CREATE SOME TYPE OF SIMULATION.

WE HAVE SOME OF THAT IN KENTUCKY.

PEOPLE ARE DOING GREAT WORK IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND FAR EAST KENTUCKY, PIKEVILLE MEDICAL.

BUT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE HAS DONE IT TO THIS SCALE.

THE VISION THAT THESE FOLKS HAD REALLY WAS, IT BLEW ME AWAY WHEN THEY SAID HERE'S WAS WE'VE GOT.

WILL YOU HELP BUILD IT?

TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, NOBODY IS DOING IT LIKE THIS.

I'VE BEEN TO SPEAK AT CONFERENCES AND WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY HEALTHCARE FOLKS FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO MAINE.

>> AND TO DC.

>> .

IF I WANTED TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OR TRY TO GET INVOLVED, HOW DOES A PERSON DO IT.

>> GET ON OUR WEBSITE.

LOOK AT HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY AND IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE.

AND YOU WILL SEE GREAT VIDEOS.

YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A CATALOG OF WHAT OUR RESOURCES ARE THAT WE CAN GIVE.

WE ALL, ALL THE INSTITUTIONS GET TO USE THIS.

WE DELIVER AND WE WORK WITH THEM.

SO THIS IS NOT HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S RESOURCES.

THIS IS OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND GROW THEIR PROGRAMS AND THEN IN EFFECT, GROW OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ADULTS AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL STUDENTS?

>> YES.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A WHOLE LOT ABOUT OUR TRADITIONAL P-12 THROUGH COLLEGE BUT WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH OUR COUNTIES BECAUSE, LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE ONE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE, LET'S SAY HAVE YOU A SINGLE PARENT WITH TWO CHILDREN WORKING 3-11 SHIFT.

THEY CAN GO THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WORK WITH US, IF THEY DECIDE YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'D LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I THINK I HAVE A TALENT THAT I FOUND LATER IN LIFE.

>> I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY.

LOOK AT THE WEBSITE: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH THE OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS THAT EXIST IF HEALTHCARE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PATHWAYS AND HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY IS ONE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR ARCHIVED VERSION OF PAST SHOWS GO TO KET.ORG/HEALTH.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THIS OR OTHER SHOWS, WE CAN BE REACHED AT KYHEALTH@ket.org.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE NEXT "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THE WEBSITE HEALTHFORCEKENTUCKY.

I THINK WILL YOU FIND A LOT OF GOOD OPPORTUNITIES.

I CANNOT THINK OF ANY CAREER MORE REWARDING THAN BEING IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

IT IS BOTH STIMULATING AND SELF GRATIFYING.

BART, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.