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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Serious crime down in Medford ... Critter craze ... Surveillance video set to music gets leads and laughs ... Serious crime down in Medford ... Critter craze ... Surveillance video set to music gets leads and laughs ... OUR VIEW Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jul. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News It's both encouraging and discouraging to read that Rogue Community College is still in line for an $8 million matching grant from the state that would help build a health care and science building in Jackson County. Encouraging, because that seems an almost guaranteed success for RCC, with the exploding demand for health care workers at all levels. Encouraging because it could prepare local students for well-paying jobs in a region where those kinds of jobs are often hard to come by. But discouraging because the matching grant is a continuation of an offer put forward by the state two years ago and the only announced matches we've seen total about $1.3 million. And discouraging because it seems the bar is being set awfully low for what RCC could do if it is able to leverage the full $16 million. There's no question about the demand for health care workers. In fact the numbers are staggering. The World Health Organization says the shortage worldwide already exceeds 7 million positions and could nearly double by 2035. CSC, a technology data company, predicts shortages in the United States of 500,000 nurses and nearly 150,000 physicians by 2025. The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute predicts that by 2020 the U.S. will need 1.1 million additional direct-care workers. The Association of Schools of Public Health projects a U.S. shortage of 250,000 public health workers by 2020. And the shortages are not a decade away. On a smaller, local scale, an RCC dean says employers in the region are currently looking to fill more than 550 medical secretary jobs. Demand is exceeding supply for doctors, nurses, physican assistants, certified nursing assistants, lab techs and on and on. This seems like the perfect opportunity for the community — and the state — to rally to a cause that should pay dividends for decades to come. Yes, the state has stepped up with matching grant, but given its paltry efforts to boost rural economies, why demand $8 million be raised in the community? Some kind of test to prove we really need it? If we do indeed need to prove it, well, this community has done it before. Boosting the economy and giving our kids hope — and maybe even reason to stay in Southern Oregon — should be incentive enough to make this happen. RCC should step up as well. Adding 125 student positions if and when a 40,000-square-foot building is completed is not enough. Why not continue to use the old buildings? We realize it's not that simple, but the potential will not be realized if the bar is set too low. There is great opportunity here to create something meaningful and lasting. None of us should allow it to turn into anything less. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501