Healthcare was discussed Thursday night during a public Zoom event with the Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 10.

Stuart lawyer and farmer Warren Varley held his latest zoom event as Dr. Laura Bowshier, and Dr. Glenn Hurst accompanied him to discuss healthcare. Dr. Bowshier is a family medicine physician at MercyOne Waukee Family Medicine Clinic. Dr. Hurst is a family medicine specialist who works with several retirement facilities in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

The event began with a conversation about the challenges physicians are facing in regards to COVID-19. Both Bowshier and Hurst expressed frustration with leadership at all levels. Bowshier said it’s been frustrating receiving inconsistent guidelines throughout the pandemic. Both physicians expressed that one good thing that can come from this pandemic is increased use in telemedicine. Hurst said the ability to work with patients remotely has been vital throughout the last few months, especially when he couldn’t physically go into a retirement home he works at due to an outbreak. Hurst added that he’s worried that if family medicine doesn’t evolve in favor of telemedicine options, those in rural communities will suffer immensely as many young physicians will favor working in more populated settings instead of focusing on small rural communities.

Varley previously held Zoom discussions on education funding and energy policy. He is running against Republican incumbent and private ambulance service chief operating officer Jake Chapman of Adel.