What's New

The November Issue of RWHC Eye On Health is now available and Includes:

Thanks for your ongoing interest in rural health!

25th RWHC Rural Essay Prize Winner Announced–This year’s Hermes Monato Rural Health Essay Prize for $2,500 has been awarded to Ian Jasso, a senior studying Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison or his essay, “Mish ko Swen: To Be Strong and Healthy” available at http://ow.ly/MWrI30eYKbN 
 

Wisconsin Partners

Seeks a Community Builder (.5 FTE)

Organization Description–Wisconsin Partners is a statewide “association of associations” whose goal is to be an effective community building network. Info at http://ow.ly/9hVZ30ei0s9

Position Description–This individual will use strategic community building and organizing techniques to engage stakeholders in community and neighborhood improvement in two geographical regions of the state: Fox Valley/Green Bay corridor; and Southcentral/Southwest corridor. The incumbent will also support the efforts of the statewide organization’s development.

See the complete description at http://ow.ly/6zZf30ei29D

Salary and Benefits–The Community Builder will be employed by the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) and contracted to work for Wisconsin Partners. It is anticipated that the Community Builder will spend much of their time meeting with community partners, and will find it most convenient to work remotely/out of his or her home, however, an office space and support is offered by RWHC in Sauk City. 

Contact Information–Please send cover letter and resume to wisconsinpartners@gmail.com by 9/1/2017.

Quarles & Brady / RWHC Community Engagement Award Winners

We had such amazing applications for the Community Engagement award this year - our selection committee had a tough time coming to consensus! Thank you so much to all who applied and a big huge congratulations to Sauk Prairie Healthcare for winning the top prize ($2500) and to Edgerton Hospital and Health Services for winning second place ($500). The very worthy programs for each hospital are described below. 

Sauk Prairie Healthcare was recognized for "Project SEARCH" (PS), a partnership between Sauk Prairie Healthcare, area school districts—including the Sauk Prairie, Lodi, and Baraboo school districts—local businesses, and local agencies to provide internship experiences for students ages 18 to 21 with significant disabilities. Each program lasts one year and offers three internship rotations to learn skills that can lead to employment. Now in its second year, nearly all of the interns have employment commitments.

Edgerton Hospital & Health Services has been working to combat childhood obesity and encourage activity among its young residents. In addition to implementing a Fitbit program at the middle school, the hospital established a "Fitness Zone" in the local elementary schools. The Fitness Zone allows hospital staff to attend recesses and coordinate activities to get kids moving. While the program has been successful, a lack of funding makes it difficult to expand. The hospital plans to enhance the program by using its award money to purchase equipment, which will enable more children to participate.

Thanks again to everyone who applied - your programs are inspiring!

Sarah Coyne, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP

Rural Health Leadership Radio: A Conversation with Tim Size

"Rural Health Leadership Radio™ (RHLR) is the very first radio show of its kind!  RHLR is a weekly podcast featuring leaders working in rural health; leaders of hospitals, clinics, networks, companies and communities."

“If there was ever a need for strong leadership, that time is now.  RHLR’s mission is to provide a forum to have conversations with rural health leaders to discuss and share ideas about what is working, what is not working, lessons learned, success stories, strategies, things to avoid and anything else you want to talk and hear about.  RHLR provides a forum that is absolutely free to anyone who wants to tune in and listen.  RHLR provides a voice for rural health.  The only investment is your time, and our goal is to make sure you receive a huge return on your investment.”

The Future Landscape of Wisconsin’s Health Care Workforce

Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Glacier Canyon Lodge at The Wilderness Resort

Registration Open at http://www.cvent.com/d/85qxys

At the statewide WCMEW Conference, attendees will develop an understanding of health care workforce issues as interdisciplinary and time-sensitive in Wisconsin. Participants will forge connections across stakeholder groups, developing the ability to frame workforce challenges as opportunities for collaboration and creativity. Experts will present approaches to address projected health care workforce issues, including preparing health professionals for an evolving care system, leveraging community leadership, and formulating effective public policy.

Health care executives, community leaders, health care providers, educators and trainers, and policymakers will all benefit by attending this conference.

Presented by WCMEW, a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization whose purpose is to facilitate strategies to assure an adequate supply of health care providers to meet the needs of Wisconsin citizens today and into the future.

WCMEW stakeholders include: the Medical College of Wisconsin, Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, State of Wisconsin, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants, Wisconsin Center for Nursing, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Medical Society and the Wisconsin Nurses Association.

MetaStar would like to announce an unique grant partnership for community pharmacies, physician clinics, Emergency Rooms and Urgent Cares across the state. 

The grant is focused on antibiotic stewardship in the community by  decreasing the use of unnecessary antibiotics hence improving the antibiotic resistance along with decreasing community acquired C-Diff.   Click here for a PDF Flyer that explains the rationale and gives some insight to the project. See also this video link which discusses the need, rationale and project actions in greater detail. For physician clinics this does count towards their QPP initiatives. This grant is free of charge to participants and requires a signed participation agreement. 

RURAL WISCONSIN HEALTH COOPERATIVE AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT FOR PRIMARY CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 

Sauk City, WI. (7/3/17) – Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) is grateful to announce it has received a $300,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Network Development Grant Program for a primary care quality improvement initiative intended to drive improvements in the care of patients with diabetes and hypertensive disease. The grant award is for the first year of what is anticipated to be a 3-year initiative.

The Rural Wisconsin Primary Care Outcomes Improvement Project is a collaborative effort between RWHC, the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ), the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), Physician Compass, and eleven RWHC member hospitals. These project partners will be working together to achieve their common goals of improving HbA1C and blood pressure control in the project’s patient population.

“Rural Wisconsin communities have higher than average rates of poverty, obesity, and tobacco use, three key risk factors for diabetes and hypertensive disease,” said Tim Size, RWHC’s Executive Director. “We are promoting wellness through collaborative self-management and lifestyle improvement in order to reduce these risk factors. RWHC is very excited to have received funding to do this important work.”  

For more information, contact: Louis Wenzlow, RWHC Director of HIT and Strategic Initiatives/CIO at 608-643-2343 or LWenzlow@rwhc.com

"The State of Health Care in Wisconsin – Advocacy in a Divided Country" Tim Size, RWHC Executive Director, co-presented with the Eric Borgerding, Wisconsin Hospital Association's President/CEO, at the annual Wisconsin Rural Health Conference in the Wisconsin Dells on 6/22/17.

No RWHC Eye on Health for July - Editor "Gone Fishing"