U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says healthcare is about more than treating the sick. It's about a healthy society.
Durbin was on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus in Bloomington Tuesday, talking to students and offering them advice.
"Think for a moment about medicine and justice, particularly in a nation which prides itself on being a democracy, a caring nation," said Durbin.
He recalled for the students a time when his then-infant daughter had a heart condition. In the clinic they went to, some doctors had a discouraging message. Others were encouraging.
“So, I'd say to doctors and to nurses, that extra moment of time that you spend with the person, that caring look in your eye that really is genuine makes a real difference not only whether the patient does well but whether the family believes that they're going to do well. That's an important part of your conversation,” said Durbin.
Durbin has delivered a congressional earmark for the IWU Nursing and Health Sciences Innovation Program.
“We truly appreciate the $1 million in funding that he secured for Illinois Wesleyan, which allows us to improve classroom technology and continue preparing nursing students and health professionals who will contribute meaningfully to the health of our communities,” said IWU President Sheahon Zenger.
IWU said it will use the money to update clinical simulation labs, create smart classrooms, beef up a tutoring program and hire part time nursing faculty.
“This funding will help graduate more highly trained nurses to serve our entire region, making a difference in the lives of thousands of people,” said Durbin.
The Illinois Democrat also used a roundtable discussion with students and faculty to lament a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid funding. He said a survey of downstate hospital administrators showed significant public health consequences from the reduction.
"They anticipated losing annual revenue of $10, $20, $50 million. Some of these hospitals will change the way they treat people in the community," said Durbin.
Durbin estimated the U.S. needs 450,000 nurses over the next two years and 120,000 doctors over the next decade. High debt for medical professional education is a barrier to filling those gaps.
Durbin introduced the Rural America Health Corps Act in March to offer student loan forgiveness incentives for health professionals who settle in rural areas.
He also said government should do more to reduce barriers for nurses who want to become nursing faculty.
“You're asking a lot, aren't you? Give up that steady paycheck you can count on, leave nursing at least temporarily or at least partially, so you can get this education… It turns out that the economics just don't match,” said Durbin.
He noted nursing faculty are generally not particularly well-compensated. In January, Durbin reintroduced the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act creating a pilot grant program to help nursing schools increase wages for nurse educators.
And last year Durbin moved legislation to recapture unused immigrant visas for nurses and physicians to move to rural areas.
