OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH & PRIMARY CARE
Rural Health Advisory Committee
Duties
Members 2016-2017
The Rural Health Advisory Committee is a
statewide forum for rural health interests with a
diverse membership. The Committee’s duties
are defined in statute to:
▪
John Baerg (Butterfield), Consumer
▪
Ann Bussey (Side Lake), Consumer
▪
Ray Christensen MD (Duluth),
Higher Education
▪
Thomas Crowley (Wabasha), Hospitals
▪
Ellen Delatorre (Mankato), Consumer
▪
Daron Gersch MD (Albany), Physician
▪
Clark Johnson (North Mankato),
Minnesota House of Representatives
▪
Margaret Kalina RN (Alexandria),
Registered Nurse
▪
Tony Lourey (Kerrick), Minnesota Senate
▪
Jackie Osterhaus PA (Paynesville),
Mid-level Practitioner
▪
Julie Rosen (Fairmont), Minnesota Senate
▪
Joe Schomacker (Luverne),
Minnesota House of Representatives
▪
Nancy Stratman (Crosby),
Long-Term Care
▪
Tom Vanderwal (Bemidji), EMS
▪
Michael Zakula DDS (Tower),
Licensed Health Care Professional
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Advise the commissioner of the
Minnesota Department of Health and
other state agencies on rural health
issues.
Provide a systematic and cohesive
approach toward rural health issues and
planning, at both a local and statewide
level.
Develop and evaluate mechanisms to
encourage greater cooperation among
rural communities and among providers
Recommend and evaluate approaches to
rural health issues that are sensitive to
the needs of local communities and
Develop methods for identifying
individuals underserved by the rural
health care system.
(Minnesota Statutes section 144.1481)
Priority issues 2016-2017
▪
Health professional shortages
▪
Access to mental health services
▪
Access to oral health services
▪
EMS sustainability
▪
Transportation
▪
Rural child poverty
Reports and Briefs
▪
Nurse Practitioners in Rural Minnesota Results of an Employer Survey (2015)
▪
Improving Response to Mental and
Behavioral Health Emergencies (2013)
RURAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
▪
Obstetric Services in Rural MN (2013)
▪
Health Status of Rural Minnesotans (2011)
▪
General Surgery in Rural MN (2011)
▪
Telemental Health in Rural MN (2010)
▪
Rural Health Care: New Delivery Model
Recommendations (2009)
▪
Minnesota Rural Health Plan (2008)
▪
Language Access Services in Critical
Access Hospitals for Patients with
Limited English Proficiency in Rural MN
(2008)
▪
Health Care Reform: Addressing the
Needs of Rural Minnesotans (2007)
▪
Retaining Rural Nurses (2007)
▪
Creating Healthy Communities for an
Aging Population (2006)
▪
Mental Health and Primary Care in Rural
MN (2005)
Staff contact
Minnesota Department of Health
Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
PO Box 6442, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
651-201-3838
[email protected]
www.health.state.mn.us
Darcy Dungan-Seaver
[email protected]
(651) 201-3855
Website
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/rhac/in
dex.html
JANUARY 2016
To obtain this information
in a different format, call:
651-201-3838
Printed on recycled paper.
2