title: At the grass roots. How I helped my community restore its health care system. Interview by Rhonda Bergman.
abstract: The late 1980s saw the unraveling of the health care system in rural northern Pend Oreille County, WA. It began when the area's only physician left, followed by the shuttering of the only area hospital. Kathy Grass, office manager of the local health clinic and a longtime hospital employee, was one of many who stepped forward to help. Given the title "community encourager" by other local volunteers, Grass began working with other residents to restore the local health care system and recruit providers. In a recent interview with Hospitals & Health Networks staff editor Rhonda Bergman, Grass described the challenges faced by her community.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grass
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006271:Health Facility Closure; D006286:Health Planning Councils; D011340:Problem Solving; D014478:Unemployment; D014861:Washington