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Center for
Rural Policy
and Development
We would like to thank everyone who made this year's Rural Minnesota Forum such a great success. During the Forum, attendees participated in a discussion with legislators on what they want policy makers, particularly legislators, to know about the current state of health care in rural Minnesota. The summary of that discussion is now available. To download a pdf of the brief, click here.
The Forum was held as a joint effort with the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care's Minnesota Rural Health Conference, "Growing Healthy Rural Communities," June 18-19 in Duluth. The Rural Minnesota Forum brought together individuals from across the state to discuss the future of health care in rural Minnesota and the policy issues that are most important to rural residents today. Click here to see the Forum agenda. You can also click here to download a Forum brochure.
Carol Church, RN, and Patti Martin, Carlton County Public Health, discussed rural health care access issues with Sen. Patricia Torres Ray (center) during the afternoon session. |
Former state senator Sheila Kiscaden (at podium) moderated legislative panelists Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud); Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis); Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie); Sen. Betsy Wergin (R-Princeton); Rep. Tom Huntley DFL-Duluth). |
Dr. Douglas Wood of Mayo Health Systems presented the keynote talk on "Minnesota's Health Care System: Transform, Reform or Status Quo?" Click here to download the Powerpoint presentation. In the first panel of the day, five state legislators from the House and Senate health committees discussed policy activity from the past legislative session and the potential for action in the 2008 session. In the second panel of the day, Liz Quam, incoming president of the Minnesota Rural Health Association, Dr. Patty Lindholm, Fergus Falls Medical Group, and Maddy Forsberg, Southwest Area Agency on Aging, gave their viewpoints on "What every legislator should know about rural health care." Audience members were then able to discuss their views with legislators at their tables.
For more information on the Minnesota Rural Health Conference, visit the Department of Health's conference site. |
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11 a.m. |
Registration DECC Convention Center Lobby |
Noon |
Networking Lunch Edmund Fitzgerald Exhibit Hall |
1 p.m. |
Welcome to the Rural Minnesota Forum Opening remarks |
1:10 |
Keynote Speaker: |
2 p.m. |
Recap of the 2007 Legislative session and a look to 2008 Join Minnesota's legislative leaders including Senate Health Committee Chair Linda Berglin and House Health Committee Chair Tom Huntley in an interactive recap of the outcomes of the 2007 session and directions for 2008. Moderated by Sheila Kiscaden. |
3 p.m. |
Break |
3:15 |
What every legislator needs to know about rural health care What do legislators need to know about rural health care? Prespectives from four points of view will be followed by an interactive discussion between legislators and conference attendees. |
4:30 |
Social reception Harborside Skywalk Lobby Join us for appetizers and networking at the end of the day. |
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For a look at last November's Forum on "Educating Rural Minnesota's Children," click here.