Residents Get Chance To Weigh In On Health Care Priorities

In an effort to address the health care concerns of rural residents in Highlands and surrounding counties, the Florida Office of Rural Health will hold a town hall meeting starting at noon, Thursday, at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center to receive public input.

These town hall meetings allow residents to share their opinions on health priorities affecting their communities, a news release stated.

Thursday's meeting is one of five, and the Community Health Improvement Planning Council of Highlands County (CHIP) will host the local event.

Formerly known as the Highlands County Agri-Civic Center, the meeting will be at 4505 S. George Blvd., in Sebring.

"Our whole purpose is to address the health needs of Highlands County and to see if we can develop initiatives or support initiatives that are already there," said Jackie Rawlings, chairwoman of CHIP on Tuesday.

Rawlings said the other meetings have either been held already or will be held in other parts of the state.

State health officials want to know if providers, consumers and businesses think the area is in need of more health care providers.

"Do we need more family practitioners or do we need more specialists, more diabetes care?" Rawlings asked. "Do we need more transportation for health care, more recruitment by insurance companies to providers?"

The Florida Office of Rural Health, which was established in 1991 through state legislation, is identifying priority rural health issues and developing a Rural Health Plan, according to a news release.

"This Rural Health Plan helps to establish policies and activities towards resolving identified issues relating to health and health care services for rural residents," the release stated.

"The Office of Rural Health is currently in the process of updating this plan and is seeking input from rural residents throughout the state of Florida."

Reservations are not required, a light lunch will be provided and it is not necessary to attend the entire meeting.

All individuals from Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto and other surrounding rural counties are invited to participate in this meeting.

The facilitator, Gail Bellamy, a Florida State University professor and director of the Center on Rural Health Research and Policy at FSU's College of Medicine, will lead the discussion.

For more information, contact Jackie Rawlings at 863-382-7208.