From staff reports
A hospital‐based education center, state‐of‐the‐art simulation lab and career development program are among the projects set to receive $2 million in funding through a partnership between Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH), the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort.
“We are so proud to have the City of Beaufort, Beaufort County and USCB working with us on this important endeavor for our community,” BMH President and CEO Russell Baxley, MHA, said in a news release. “Together, we are working to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the Lowcountry and provide pathways for residents in our community to achieve their career goals.”
The new education center and simulation labs will provide a dedicated space with access to medical equipment, technology and training for future and current healthcare professionals, including nursing students enrolled at USCB and in the Beaufort Memorial PATH Program. The simulation labs will also be used by current nursing staff for continuing education on clinical competencies and skill demonstration. The 6,340 square‐foot facility will be located on the second floor of the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center at 990 Ribaut Road.
“The measure of a university’s success so often reflects the strength of its partnerships,” USCB Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Eric Skipper, PhD, said. “We are proud to partner with Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County in this effort, which will enhance opportunities for our nursing students and produce more nursing graduates to serve our region.”
City Council recently approved an amendment to the City of Beaufort FY 2023 budget, allocating $1.5 million to healthcare workforce development programs and simulation labs in the new education center. The City received funding through a grant from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for a nursing expansion and retention program. USCB will also be contributing $500,000 to the education center project.
“We’ve worked closely with Beaufort Memorial Hospital, USCB and Beaufort County to bring this project to fruition,” said Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray. “We need more healthcare workers in this region, and this initiative will address that in a concrete way. This is another example of how our partnerships are helping to grow jobs, our workforce, and our local economy.”
“These programs, which are being partially funded through an FY23 state budget proviso, are essential to educating and retaining high quality health care professionals in our region. Beaufort Memorial’s initiatives benefit all of us,” City Manager Scott Marshall added.
The Beaufort Memorial PATH Program has been showcased as an innovative example of workforce development by the South Carolina Hospital Association and includes scholarships, clinical training, traditional education, and even non‐traditional financial assistance to encourage and incentivize individuals to advance their careers and support a better healthcare network.
Providing several avenues for career development to bolster the county’s healthcare system, the PATH Program is a joint venture funded by the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation and Beaufort County. In the summer of 2022, the county provided initial funding for BMH’s proprietary program with a contribution of $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. An additional $500,000 towards construction of the educational center brings the County’s total investment in healthcare workforce development to $1.2 million. The fully committed collaboration between Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort, USCB, and Beaufort County School District, has made the PATH Program effort a success.
In the first six months after launching PATH, 20 individuals have graduated from the 12‐week program to obtain positions as EKG technicians, clinical medical assistants and patient care technicians. An additional five nursing students have also received scholarships through the program for courses at USCB or Technical College of the Lowcountry.
“The Beaufort Memorial team has been the key ingredient in this initiative,” said Special Assistant to the County Administrator Hank Amundson. “We want to support this mission to both improve our community’s healthcare system and help individuals advance in the workforce to provide a better quality of life for them and their families.”
Community members interested in learning how they might join the team at Beaufort Memorial and grow their career through the PATH Program should visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Careers or attend an RSVP‐only Career Fair on Wednesday, May 3. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/JobFair for details and to reserve a spot.
