Rural healthcare roundtable discussion held in Albert Lea Wednesday evening

State District 27A Representative Peggy Bennett, a Repblican from Albert Lea and a panel of healthcare experts held a rural healthcare roundtable discussion Wednesday night in Albert Lea.  Bennett told KAUS News that the recent announcement of Mercy One of North Iowa providing services to Albert Lea was discussed, but she added that there was also discussion about working towards possible solutions to affordable and accessible medical care….

Bennett stated that a lack of ambulance services in Albert Lea and the surrounding area was another main topic of discussion…

Bennett went on to state that the panel also discussed the possibility of a community paramedic in Freeborn County….

The panel of state wide rural health care experts included Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care Director Zora Radosevich; Minnesota Rural Health Care Association Director Mark Jones; Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board Executive Director Tony Spector; and Minnesota Hospital Association Interim President and CEO Matt Johnson.