11/20/96 Contact: Terry Murphy, 614/593-9797

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD) at Ohio University is sponsoring "Rural Health in Ohio: Empowering Communities," a conference Nov. 21 and 22 (Thursday and Friday) at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The conference is designed to empower communities to face challenges in the rural health-care delivery system, according to Susan Isaac, health research associate at ILGARD and a member of the conference planning committee.

"By pulling rural people together, both health professionals and community members, we can sharpen the focus in Ohio on rural health needs and what is happening to rural areas with public policy changes and changes in market forces," Isaac said.

Isaac, Patricia Dewees, senior project manager and associate director, and Marsha Lewis, public management and policy specialist, will lead sessions of the conference.

"By presenting information on what is happening in the public and market sectors, the conference will help rural attendees identify the effects of those changes in their communities," Isaac said. "By presenting information on how other communities are responding to these changes, the conference will give rural people tools and ideas about how they can also creatively retake control of their health-care system."

Anyone interested in rural health care may attend one or both days of the conference. For information about conference fees and registration, call (614) 644-8508.