Funding info requested for OSU medical program move

By the Associated Press

Published: November 12, 2008

TULSA -- An accrediting body wants information about the potential funding for the planned move of the Oklahoma State University medical residency program to another hospital.

The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine missed a Nov. 6 deadline to provide that funding information to the American Osteopathic Association. State Treasurer Scott Meacham said the accrediting body has granted OSU a 30-day extension.

OSU said in September that it planned to move its residency program to the St. Francis Health System as of July 1.

The accrediting board sent a letter on Nov. 6 to Dr. John Fernandes, the dean of OSU's medical school and president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences, saying it needed the funding information so that it can be reviewed by the board's Program and Trainee Review Committee.

"We regret that we have not heard from you regarding program funding by now," the letter read. "The PTRC will only review applications for new programs once there is a guaranteed funding stream for each trainee to complete their full curriculum."

The board expressed concern about the future of osteopathic training program in Tulsa and said that further delays could diminish both the size and quality of the applicant pool for residency slots in all specialties making the move to St. Francis.

The board also said in the letter it especially was concerned about "the potential forfeiture of over 130 approved and funded (Graduate Medical Education) positions at the current Oklahoma State University Medical Center."

According to the letter, if OSU does not provide the funding information, applications for the residency training programs would be put on hold.

"We are working very closely with Senate and House leadership," Meacham said, "because I think the real deadline is the accreditation body has given us 30 days from last week to come up with some kind of proposal. They want stability."

OSU Center for Health Sciences spokeswoman Ellen Averill said that the move remains on schedule.

"OSU has been working diligently to find a stable solution for our physician training programs and we are extremely grateful to St. Francis for their willingness to provide a stable home for our residents during a very difficult time," Averill said.

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Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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