Quality, efficiency, and kindness describe my experience with small town healthcare in northeast North Dakota. As a young mom of an army of kids, we are frequent fliers to our local clinic, hospital, and ER from well-baby checks, routine vaccinations, physical, speech and occupational therapy, ear infections, accidents, and more.

• Quality medical staff, as well as reception staff, make visits comfortable and valuable.
• Efficiency is shown in the briefness of an appointment. From waiting room to leaving the building, small town health care is more conscientious of your time.
• Permeating all aspects is the immense kindness shown to you as a patient or health care advocate. The reception staff could be your neighbor or fellow church member. The medical staff are members of your community that you see in other aspects of life which gives them and you a deeper understanding and compassion for each other.

Some people may be concerned with living in the same small town as their healthcare professionals, but in my experience, coexisting in community with these professionals only improves the quality of care and compassion you receive in your time of need.