Linton community forums mwill discuss health care Concern for the future of rural health care has prompted the Linton Hospital to join forces with the Center for Rural Health to hold two community forums in Linton Wednesday, Feb. 27. The forums, to be held in the KEM Electric meeting room, are open to anyone with an interest in the health and well-being of rural people and communities across the upper Midwest. The forums will focus on the future of rural health care and feature keynote presentations by Roger Unger, Linton Hospital administrator, and Brad Gibbens, associate director for community development and policy at the UND Center for Rural Health in Grand Forks. "Hosting community discussion is a great way to gain fresh insights into health policy perspectives, learn what is happening around the area and develop new contacts with people dealing with issues similar to their own,” said Unger. “Citizens can voice their concerns as well as offer ideas for solutions to make rural health care in North Dakota better." The first forum will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and the second from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees will participate in facilitated discussions on items such as health care costs, maintaining access to quality services, and health care workforce availability. “Our goal in having these community meetings is to offer health care consumers a chance to learn more about rural health at the national and state level,” said Gibbens. “Health care is in the national spotlight and is an important subject in the upcoming elections. A community meeting allows people to also share their thoughts on what they see as issues, what they see that is working, and how health care should be reformed.” The community forums are open to the public and will include refreshments. -- Wendy Opsahl, Communications Coordinator, Center for Rural Health, wopsahl@medicine.nodak.edu, 777-0871