American Nurses Association Hosts Health Care Town Hall Event at Democratic and Republican Conventions

The American Nurses Association, along with The Creative Coalition, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Health Care Association (AHCA), National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), and AARP, hosted town hall meetings during both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to discuss vital health care issues.


The events entitled "From Hollywood to the Hill: Speak Out on Health Care- If I had one minute with the Next President" was an overwhelming success, bringing together professionals from the fields of health care, policy, media, and entertainment to share ideas and views on health system reform. ANA members attending included ANA President Rebecca Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, the ANA-PAC Chair Sara Jarrett, RN, MS,MA, EdD, the ANA-PAC Secretary Patricia Messmer, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN and ANA Board of Trustee Mary Maryland, PhD, APRN-BC, ANP.

Both venues in Denver and in St. Paul were sold out. Over 40 different national and international media outlets covered the events which were attended by several members of the U.S. House and Senate as well as state and local elected officials from across the country. Nurses who also serve as delegates were in attendance at both town halls. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Colorado Nurses Association attended and provided volunteer support in Denver.

In St. Paul, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) joined the panel of experts discussing the issue of health care reform. More than 300 people attended the event at the St. Paul Hard Rock Café. Members of the Association of Nurse Anesthetists provided volunteer support. The ANA contingent had an opportunity to speak at length with the panelists about nurses' role in health care reform at a post-event gathering.
Angela Song