The UNMC Rural Health Education Building isn’t expected to open until early 2026 on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, but preparations are being made.
Just days after the groundbreaking on the facility, the President of Community Hospital in McCook says they are planning for an influx of people looking to study, train, and work in rural Nebraska health fields, and he’s working on a plan to build apartment-style housing for students who will complete clinicals at the Southwest Nebraska hospital.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center reports every Nebraska county except Douglas and Lancaster is designated as a shortage area for at least one type of primary care.
UNMC says thirteen counties don’t have a primary care physician; 25 are designated as shortage areas for family physicians, and only 49 have an active OB-GYN.
The Med Center numbers also show high demand for more dentists, mental health practitioners, nurses, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
(Picture from Getty Images)