Richard Krugman, dean of the school of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver talks with Morgan Community College Nursing Director Kathy Frisbie during a tour of the college s new health wing. ( Picasa )

Efforts have increased to bring more health care providers to Northeast Colorado and other rural areas, to provide better care in the region.

At the same time, health professionals discussed predictions that health care is facing difficult economic times.

Last week, Richard Krugman, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, made a full-day visit to the Centennial Area Health Education Center. That included visits to Fort Morgan's Salud Family Health Center and Morgan Community College's new health

University of Colorado School of Medicine Dean Richard Krugman, left, came to visit the Salud Family Health Center in Fort Morgan last week as part of a trip to connect with rural health care programs. ( Picasa )

Before that, he had visited a hospital in Yuma and a clinic in Akron, and he was scheduled to visit other health care providers in Greeley.

Krugman was making connections with health professionals and having conversations with those within the AHEC area. Often, CU students train out in the Northeast Colorado, and that helps build bridges for rural health care. Sometimes, they find they want to stay in a rural area.

This is a good way to find doctors, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals to work in areas that are medically underserved, he said.

All CU medical students have some time in a rural community, Krugman said.

That not only offers some help in rural hospitals and clinics when students help with the work load, but they learn about rural health care systems.

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