WAKE COUNTY, N.C. – The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), under the presidential initiative of NCACC President and Perquimans County Commissioner Wallace Nelson, welcomed county leaders, health care providers, researchers, and policy experts to the inaugural NC Counties Care: Access Within Reach forum on Friday, March 27, at the Quorum Center in Wake County. The forum focused on the critical role of rural hospitals, the challenges these facilities face, and strategies to strengthen access to care across North Carolina.
Attendees received a first look at NCACC’s newly released white paper on rural hospitals, co-authored with Carolina Demography. The research examines the impacts of rural hospital closures on access to care and provides data-driven insights to guide local decision-making.
“Our newly released research on rural hospital closures, in partnership with Carolina Demography, shows how deeply these losses impact access to care across entire regions — not just one county,” said NCACC President Nelson. “Today was about understanding those impacts on our counties and residents and hearing from leaders across the state, which is essential to creating real change.”
The forum featured keynote remarks by Maggie Sauer, director of the NCDHHS Office of Rural Health, and a panel discussion moderated by Kevin Leonard, NCACC executive director, with panelists including Brian Floyd, chair of the North Carolina Healthcare Association Board and president of ECU Health; Nicole Barnes, health director for the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department; and Dr. Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography. Participants also engaged in interactive table discussions, sharing perspectives and exploring strategies to address county-level health care challenges.
As part of NCACC’s NC Counties Care: Access Within Reach presidential initiative, two additional statewide forums are planned:
- Health Care in Jails — Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Beaufort County Community College, Beaufort County
- Innovations in Health Care — Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:30-4:30 p.m., J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, Caldwell County
These forums will provide county officials with opportunities to explore solutions, share best practices, and learn from peers and subject matter experts. For more information about NCACC’s NC Counties Care presidential initiative and upcoming forums, visit ncacc.org/nc-counties-care.
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Print-quality photos may be downloaded for use here. Photo should be credited as follows: Photo courtesy of NCACC.