Seton, St. David’s Renew Funding for Nursing Program Partnership to Fund Increase of Nursing Faculty, Students

Austin, TX – September 26, 2006 – Regional growth demands indicate Central Texas needs 11,000 nurses by 2012, 25 percent more than were employed in 2002. Before this workforce need can be met, training programs must be expanded.

“We are grateful to the two largest healthcare networks in Austin, Seton Family of Hospitals and St. David’s HealthCare, who clearly recognize the economic benefit to renewing this partnership and securing the funding needed to further expand Austin Community College’s nursing program,” said Eileen Klein, dean of ACC’s Health Sciences.

In the last decade, St. David’s HealthCare has invested almost half a billion into the expansion of facilities, technological capabilities, services and geographic reach. To continue to meet the needs of the growing Central Texas population, St. David’s anticipates continued, unprecedented growth in the coming years.

“To continue to provide superb healthcare, we all must train and retain more nurses than ever before,” Jon Foster, chief executive officer of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “Strategic partnerships such as this one between ACC, St. David’s and Seton are the only way to make that happen.”

Over the next 15-years, the Seton Family of Hospitals will need more than 3,000 nurses in order to keep up with strong patient demand for complex medical services in Central Texas. Seton continues to aggressively invest in new hospitals and facilities such as Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and Seton Medical Center Williamson.

“We realize the valuable contribution nurses make to our healthcare system everyday. We rely on ACC’s nursing program to supply a major source of qualified nurses in Central Texas which helps further our efforts in recruitment and retention of highly qualified members,,” said Charles Barnett, President and CEO, Seton Family of Hospitals. “This partnership demonstrates the commitment to improving access and quality of health care services in Austin and communities throughout Central Texas.”

Under the renewed four-year commitment, Seton and St. David’s, agree to provide ACC with approximately $847,000 to fund 3 new full-time faculty positions, one full-time staff position and the expansion of 10 additional nursing students per year.

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