Annual university health systems report presented to curators

Posted to Board of Curators meeting: Oct. 22-23, 2009 by Rachel Krause at 11:58 a.m., Oct. 23, 2009

Vice Chancellor of the UM Health System Harold Williamson presented the annual report for the health system this morning.

Williamson explained the positive outcomes of the reorganization of the health system, which involved a newly-formed alliance between the School of Medicine, Sinclair School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions.

“The alignment of those health professions schools and what they bring the university, as well as to the health education is a major plus," Williamson said.

Williamson also overviewed the strategic initiatives for the system, involving education quantity and quality, exam scores, diversity, student feedback and financial issues.

"The average amount of debt for a medical school graduate is $130,000," Williamson said. "As a public university, we want to bring that number down"

Williamson highlighted the successes of the various schools. After curriculum changes In the mid 1990s, the system changed to a problem-based curriculum. Such changes caused improved student success rates.

"We knew that students would enjoy it more, and that faculty would enjoy teaching it more," Williamson said. "As a result of those changes the school saw sharp increases in board exam scores."

The nursing school has also fared well in recent years, Williamson said.

"For the last four years, the nursing school has ranked substantially higher than the national average," Williamson said. "And we are very proud about that."

Williamson went on to present data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. According toa report by AAMC, only thirty percent of faculty members at the university are women, in comparison to 35 percent on the national level. MU is also fifty percent lower than the national average of minority faculty members.

The association also reported MU Health System ranked 52 among universities for state funding received. UM system students received $37,000 per student, while number 10 ranked Nebraska received $143,00 per student.

“it is very difficult to gain that national recognition with low funding numbers like that," Williamson said. "So we hope to see improvements in that concern.”

Williamson also addressed the status of the H1N1 virus on the campuses, explaining that while Missouri has seen a 10% increase of cases, the amount of students who are reporting symptoms has leveled off.

"So far it is an ordinary flu epidemic that is out of sync with normal flu strains," Williamson said. "I will say that MU campuses have been working very carefully with the community and the hospital."

Kevin Necas, chief financial officer for University of Missouri Health Care, presented the financial report. Necas said for the year fiscal year ending June 30,2009, the university was able to bring expenses down by $18 million.

Necas also noted improvements in efficiency of patient care among the health care system.

"Last quarter, we were able to take care of 34 percent more patients compared to the prior quarter," Necas said. "We were able to do that by decreasing the average length of stay by 39 percent."