The Highlander staff is providing a Health Care Forum on highlandernews.net to provide the MU community with an opportunity to explore the pressing issue of health care prior to the Health Care Summit, which is tentatively scheduled for early April.
Rachel Decker, Web Editor, has added a forum to the current online edition of The Highlander in order to begin interactivity between students, faculty, staff -- and even health care providers. The forum will give everyone a chance to voice their opinions concerning health care and submit questions they would like answered by Summit guests, who may include government officials, representatives of charitable organizations and medical providers.
"I hope the MU campus uses it to its full potential," said Decker.
Purspose of Helath Care Summit Forum
The forum acts almost like a chat room. Because of this, The Highlander staff and web host, College Publisher, have created guidelines to help ensure inappropriate questions or comments are not added. Editors will monitor The Health Care Summit Forum on a regular basis.All unregistered users must register to post.
Users have the option to have e-mails sent to them each time someone replies to their comments. However, they are not forced to sign up for this feature, and there is a link available to unsubscribe from it if desired.
Amanda Janiga, Print Editor, feels the forum will help engage the community in discussion. "It is going to help with the Health Summit because we now have one place on campus where everyone can voice their concerns about health care," she said.
"The staff of The Highlander can then use this information to better tailor the upcoming Health Care Summit to the campus community."
Many students are facing the possibility of losing their health insurance after graduation. This forum will give students a chance to talk with each other to share feelings and brainstorm for solutions.
Students can also talk to people who have been through the ordeal of losing health insurance and gain insight and advice from those who have made it past the struggle.
Education's First Priority
Decker stressed that the goal of The Health Care Summit is education."Students need to be aware of their health care options after graduation since they are no longer able to stay on their parents' insurance. Health care options are available, but it is important to read the fine print," she said. "The key to health care is not only knowing your options, but understanding the health care system and knowing who to turn to. It is complicated and no one will hold your hand."
Go towww.highlandernews.net/messageboard/healthcaresummit to access The Health Care Summit Forum.
