The rural primary care doctor shortage could get worse under federal healthcare reform, causing people to rely more on midlevel providers like community paramedics.
After years of controversy, the city council in Virginia, Minn., voted Tuesday to affiliate the city’s financially troubled hospital with Essentia Health in Duluth, a growing outstate Minnesota health care organization.
Respondents in our Public Insight Network report they like the increased services that can come when a local hospital joins a health system, but they miss the personal touch.
After discussing health care concerns with more than 1,000 Minnesotans, two civic organizations report to state: Give people a bigger role in making their health care decisions.
Sanford Health, one of the main health care providers in rural Minnesota, has announced a merger with Medcenter One, which serves western North Dakota.
More and more, independent hospitals in the state are partnering with larger health systems. Mayo Clinic is experimenting with a new model, in the hopes of expanding its reach.
A lack of doctors in outstate Minnesota promises to be an ongoing problem even as communities look for solutions like student loan forgiveness programs. Health care reform could make the shortage worse.
The citizens of Sandstone were unhappy with the way Essentia was running their hospital, so they took a stand and are forcing the health care system to do better.
Jennifer Vogel
Dave Peters