Kingsport - ETSU Says Proposed New Medical School May Be Detrimental

[jabogitlu]

Honestly, I'm unsure why the King program is necessary.

Honestly? The region is becoming more and more Kingsport-Bristol vs. Johnson City. The way I'm reading it, this move is playing exactly into that competition. Our hospital systems and businesses are in competition, hell even our MSA got split into two.

On the other end of that, downtown Kingsport is growing and growing. ETSU had no interest in helping it develop (as Kpt's downtown higher education center is evolving), so my guess is that the city decided to look elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if the genesis of this idea came as much from Kingsport as it did from King.

[DiderotsGhost]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

hell even our MSA got split into two.

Really? Ha! I hadn't heard about that.


Johnson City vs. Kingsport/Bristol, eh? Just reminds me of the Springfield vs. Shelbyville rivalry on The Simpsons.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by JakilaTheHun

What percentage of Quillen College of Medicine students are actually from NE Tennessee? I imagine there are a lot of people who are local, but it is one of the best primary practice medical colleges in the nation, so I'm guessing ETSU attracts people from all over the state and all over the country, as well. (Even internationally, for that matter).

For the classes of '09, '10, and '11, just 41 of 189 students (22%) hail from NE Tennessee. Only 17 students (9%) are from out-of-state; tuition runs about $21K more a year for them. No students are from SW Virginia.

Honestly, I'm unsure why the King program is necessary. Not to put the Tri-Cities down, but the region is lucky to have one of the best medical colleges in the nation located in it, as is. Why two?

Simply put, $$$ and job creation. Here's a recent report on the economic impact of Quillen COM:

The James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University is responsible for contributing $437.8 million to the Volunteer State’s economy during 2008. In addition, the college increased family incomes by $162.6 million and created more than 3,800 jobs.
http://com.etsu.edu/spotnews/index.php?q=medical_school_added_Tennessee_economy _2008 (broken link)

[mbmouse]

The James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University is responsible for contributing $437.8 million to the Volunteer State’s economy during 2008. In addition, the college increased family incomes by $162.6 million and created more than 3,800 jobs.

Ok, if this still stays in place as far as impact on the local economy and the new Kingsport education center with King in there does the same and it doubles these above numbers, or even increases them at all, than I am all for it, competition or not. We need more jobs that can offer a higher income base in this region.

Jab, I don't know if it is really a competition between Kingsport/Bristol verses JC. I mean we have all discussed at great length on here about the frustrations we have felt and seen at JC's stagnation and odd community choices that have been made in the local government. I think it is more the issue of doing what is necessary by a local government to get necessary changes accomplished, picking the right projects to move forward with, resolving issues and road blocks of growth and so forth and unfortunately, JC is lacking in the ability to get things accomplished like the other two cites have. Maybe this is the wake up call JC officials need to realize they need to stop the crap and get on board with taking care of business for the community or get left in the dust? Or seeing as the populations of the three cities vary widely with JC being the largest, maybe this is just Kingsport and Bristols time to catch up due to the plain fact that they have more geographical space to fill than JC? Either way, competition to be and offer all they can to it's habitants for cities is healthy, not hindering. Some times a good competition is what sparks the true potential of an area. It can be a very good thing.

[DiderotsGhost]

Originally Posted by kamoshika

Simply put, $$$ and job creation. Here's a recent report on the economic impact of Quillen COM:

The James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University is responsible for contributing $437.8 million to the Volunteer State’s economy during 2008. In addition, the college increased family incomes by $162.6 million and created more than 3,800 jobs.
http://com.etsu.edu/spotnews/index.php?q=medical_school_added_Tennessee_economy _2008 (broken link)

Kamo,

I'm not arguing that it wouldn't create jobs. It's obvious why it might be beneficial to the region's economy. That's a completely separate issue, however.

Why is another medical college needed in the area? Is there really that much of a shortage of doctors in the Tri-Cities that would be alleviated by the college? That's my question.

For an area it's size, I'd imagine that the Tri-Cities actually has one of the best medical communities in the nation. Like I said, my thought is that this might make sense if it's primarily targeted towards Southwest Virginians (and maybe even SE Kentuckians and WV'ians). Since ETSU is a state school, it's more targeted towards Tennesseans. I'm not sure if the purpose of the college is to provide more qualified doctors to SW Virginia and other rural regions or if this really is just 'rivalry'.

Regardless, it's difficult to argue that it probably won't be beneficial to the region. I'm just curious as to the rationale.

[mbmouse]

Yes, there is a shortage of Dr's in the region. Very short on several specialties too such as oncologist, cardiologist and orthopedics. Currently there is a long wait to get an appointment to these kinds of specialists and many of them will not take on new patients, so it is an issue here.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Correct me if I am wrong here, but historically isn't King considered a more "exclusive/elite" college than ETSU?

Maybe by the folks living in the Tri-Cities but really, neither school is considered to be exclusive or elite. They are both regional schools and are largely unknown outside the regional geographic area.

Diverting from MBmouse's post:

Also, don't think that UT and Vanderbilt won't have a say in this. Meharry, too. I can't imagine many outside the folks at King College and some of the local business leaders/residents supporting a medical school at King College. It could, potentially, end up being a DO program (like Lincoln Memorial's) as that is easier to get off the ground.

Finally, if you look at a list of the accredited medical schools in the US, you won't find many that aren't attached to a major university or research center. There are not very many medical schools in the US (another topic altogether) to begin with and it's largely political to have one anyway. I'm not confident at King's ability to pull this one off.

[jabogitlu]

Originally Posted by JakilaTheHun

Really? Ha! I hadn't heard about that.

Yep, the Tri-Cities is now a CSA.

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Yes, there is a shortage of Dr's in the region. Very short on several specialties too such as oncologist, cardiologist and orthopedics. Currently there is a long wait to get an appointment to these kinds of specialists and many of them will not take on new patients, so it is an issue here.

Probably. But with specialty positions paying more and with an increasingly aging population, the U.S. (and region) is going to need more and more GPs.

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

Finally, if you look at a list of the accredited medical schools in the US, you won't find many that aren't attached to a major university or research center. There are not very many medical schools in the US (another topic altogether) to begin with and it's largely political to have one anyway. I'm not confident at King's ability to pull this one off.

Same here. We'll see how it plays out...