Greater Cincinnati's biggest health care system plans to hold a series of town meetings starting tonight to respond to public concerns about the status of the organization.

        The meetings come about a month before the November elections, which will decide a proposed increase in a Hamilton County tax levy that supports indigent care at University Hospital and Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        Ken Hanover, chief executive of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, plans to discuss the alliance's financial status, the nationwide shortage of health care professionals and the system's plans for the next few years.

        “We feel accountable to the people of our community and we want to give them the opportunity to hear an open and honest update,” he said.

        The first town meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Health Alliance headquarters in the former Jewish Hospital building in Avondale, 3200 Burnet Ave.

        Similar events will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Fort Hamilton Hospital, 630 Eaton Ave., and at 6:30 p.m. at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas, 85 N. Grand Ave.

        The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati includes the University, Christ, Jewish, St. Luke and Fort Hamilton hospitals and a large physician group called Alliance Primary Care.

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