HEALTH CAREERS FOUNDATION AIDS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS

Earl Norman has been in the health services business for almost a quarter century. As founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Health Services Corporation of America headquartered in Cape Girardeau, Norman keeps a close watch on the world of medicine.

"The health care industry is expanding, and the number of people entering health care professions is shrinking," said Norman. "Hospitals are having difficulty finding medical personnel."

Recognizing the need for more health care workers, HSCA founded the Health Careers Foundation more than two years ago.

"Response to the foundation has been great," said Norman.

This is reflected in the foundation's history.

"During the first year of operation almost 200 individuals received scholarship assistance for careers in nursing and other health care professions," said Norman. "More than $420,000 was awarded in scholarships, ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $3,000."

Second-year totals almost doubled the first year. More than $800,000 was awarded to about 400 recipients.

"We had more than 1,100 scholarship applications during the first two years," said Norman.

Recipients represented 89 participating hospitals the first year and 191 the second year.

"We're anticipating that third-year totals will double those of 1992-93," Norman said. "We anticipate more than $1.5 million in funding and as many as 1,000 scholarship applications."

Recipients from 39 states are currently studying under the Health Careers Foundation, either part time or full time. About 30 of the recipients are from the immediate tri-state area Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky with five of them from the Cape Girardeau area.

The foundation was created in September 1990, designed specifically to provide scholarships and loans to those interested in pursuing a career in health care, said Norman.

The goal is pointed out in the foundation's mission statement: "To encourage education among the determined men and women who choose to devote their lives to preserving and bettering the lives of others through careers in health care."

HSCA, a group purchasing organization that has more than 1,600 health care provider members, pledged $2.5 million over 10 years to the program. It is making its third $250,000 award to the foundation this year.

The central fund-raising strategy of the foundation has two parts.

"Business corporations with major health care operations are asked to provide funds for awards to first-time recipient scholars," said Norman. "Secondly, foundations and others are asked to provide funds to support the ongoing financial assistance during the second and subsequent years of the recipient scholars' educational program."

Scholarship awards are to be used for education expenses for one full year of study, said Norman. The scholarship may be renewed annually on the basis of satisfactory academic performance for up to four years.

Educating nurses and other health care professionals is a high priority for hospital executives, said Norman.

"Some 98 percent of the chief executive officers questioned in a 1991 survey conducted by HSCA expressed interest in a scholarship and loan program geared to health care professionals," said Norman.

More than 200 hospital CEOs responded to the survey by HSCA, which provides service in 49 states and Guam.

"The survey results mirror what we were hearing from our member hospitals: that staff shortages are becoming critical and are primary concerns of hospital administrators.

"These shortages have been increasing in recent years," said Norman, who cited four primary reasons for the problem: An aging population (by 2020 about 20 of 100 people will be over age 65); AIDS and other infectious diseases; more career opportunities in other fields; and potential national health insurance.

"We feel that by the year 2000 health care will be the largest growth industry in America. One-third of all jobs will be in health care," said Norman. "The education price tag will be too large for conventional tuition assistance and governmental programs to pay.

"This foundation will play a leadership role in the development of the intellectual and economic environment to attract well-qualified persons into health care fields."

The foundation's board of directors is comprised of 13 executives 10 from the health care industry and three outside the industry.