Minnesota Rural Health Association Meets in Duluth

Annual Conference Focusing on Technology

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Rural Minnesota healthcare workers are meeting for two days in Duluth to discuss possible improvements. 

The Rural Minnesota Health Association is working to improve health care for individuals outside of the states seven metropolitan areas.

Steve Gottwalt is the executive director of the RMHA, he noted that a growing concern is the declining number of health care professionals in rural parts of the state.

Gottwalt said that holding an annual conference allows professionals to gather together and discuss how to improve patient experiences in rural areas.

One method being developed is telemedicine–essentially skyping with a doctor.

Through telemedicine, a patient can visit a specialist without driving long distances to their office.

Patients can simply visit their primary care physician or local hospital facility and be examined by the specialist through broadband internet connections.

Around 600 people are attending this week’s two day conference.