August 20 - Fergus Brewing Company Leaders from Blue Cross hosted a community roundtable and social hour to discuss the state of health in the region. (LRH)
Fergus Falls, MN – Twenty-three leaders from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s executive leadership team and the company’s board of directors took a charter bus from Blue Cross’ headquarters in the Twin Cities up to our area, where they spent two days learning about rural healthcare on a “listening tour”.
Lake Region Healthcare hosted the group for a facility tour and roundtable discussion on Tuesday afternoon.
Blue Cross has a tradition of meeting with community leaders to have constructive dialogues about how it can work more collaboratively on the future of healthcare.
The purpose of this visit was to listen and to learn about what’s working and where change may be needed.
The executive leaders and board of directors toured healthcare facilities and facilitated conversations centered on the healthcare needs of our communities and others like them outside of the Twin Cities.
The group also hosted a community roundtable and social hour in Fergus Falls after the time spent at Lake Region Healthcare.
“We have had a longstanding partner relationship with Blue Cross, and we need each other to deliver our
August 20 – Lake Region Healthcare Fergus Falls Hospital
Kent Mattson, CEO of Lake Region Healthcare with Dana Erickson, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN (LRH)
interdependent products and optimal consumer experience for people in our region. This was more than just a site visit, it was opportunity to be strategic and intentional about our collaboration going forward,” said Kent Mattson, CEO at Lake Region Healthcare. “It was important for Blue Cross to hear from us directly and understand both the similarities and differences in the needs of rural and urban healthcare systems.”
“It was a privilege to visit west central Minnesota and speak directly with so many dedicated healthcare professionals and Blue Cross members who really care about the health of their communities,” said Dana Erickson, president and CEO at Blue Cross. “This trip was a great opportunity to listen, learn and collaborate on ways that all of us can work to make the region even healthier. I think these conversations can serve as a model for similar trips Blue Cross would like to take to other parts of the state.”
(Story courtesy of Lake Region Healthcare)