Event to offer interior design tips, benefit medical program

This Saturday and Sunday area residents can stop by Southeast Missouri Hospital's first Designer ShowHouse of Ideas during its "Bare Bones" weekend.

This cooperative venture between Southeast Missouri Hospital and the interior design program at Southeast Missouri State University will showcase the former Gary and Wendy Rust home at 700 N. Pacific St.

"I think people will find it very attractive. It's a fun easy way to get new ideas to put to work in their own homes," said Marge Sullivan, director of Volunteer Services at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She said the seminars are short, light and informative, and she hopes people will enjoy them. The seminars will be led by area professional interior designers.

"Those who attend will get all kinds of new decorating ideas to use in their own home," Sullivan said.

The seminar fee is included in the $12 ticket price.

Money raised from the tickets will go to help pay for a $30,000 computerized patient simulator for the hospital.

Sullivan said the patient simulator is used for refresher education for health-care professionals and it will also be used in the college of nursing and health sciences.

"This project has been designed to be a win-win for everybody. It allows us to promote the talents of our professional interior designers and it is a wonderful opportunity to university students to broaden their experience and it ultimately will affect the health care of every person that is cared for at Southeast Hospital through the use of the computerized patient simulator," Sullivan said.

Major sponsors of the project are the Southeast Missourian and A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. of Cape Girardeau.