You may not be a doctor or even play one on television, but on Thursday you will have a chance to offer some medical advice to health care providers.

The opportunity comes as part of Scotland Health Care System's invitation to its Annual Community Meeting.

Officials hold the event each year to find out how they can better serve the community's health care needs. Health system officials are quick to tell you that their main function is to serve the public and the sentiment appears to be both genuine and heartfelt.

This year's meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the WR Dulin Conference Center in Laurinburg. Refreshments will be served.

We urge you to attend. Not only will you have a chance to offer —what we hope will be constructive comments — but to listen too.

Health care officials plan to provide detailed reports on the past year's accomplishments — and there are a lot.

A few of the highlights that we counted from 2008 included:

— Scotland Memorial Hospital’s Laboratory passing an unannounced accreditation survey by the College of American Pathologists.

— The hospital adding the latest in imaging technology by installing a new open-bore MRI.

— Scotland Memorial's Cardiac Rehabilitation program completing the criteria necessary to earn recertification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

— Gregory C. Wood, the system's president and CEO, being appointed to serve a five-year term as a member of the NorthCarolina Institute of Medicine. Institute members assist in the formation of public policy on issues concerning health and healthcare for North Carolina.

Thursday's forum won't be all hindsight. Administrators are also expected to talk about the challenges the health care system will face and the goals for 2009.

We hope the public will take advantage of the opportunity and the hospitality.