THE VALUED VOICE

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded more than $550,000 in grants to nine Wisconsin hospitals to increase access and enhance quality care in rural Wisconsin. These grants, first created by WHA-initiated legislation, aim to expand workforce training opportunities in rural areas and high-demand occupations..
 
Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) Grants totaling nearly $250,000 will help rural health care providers increase the number of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses by supporting the development of clinical training sites. Hospitals and clinics receiving APC grants are:

• Aspirus – Central Wisconsin
• Cumberland Memorial Hospital – Cumberland, Wisconsin
• Essentia – Northwest Wisconsin
• Marshfield Clinic Health System – Northern, Central and Western Wisconsin
• Prairie Ridge Health – Columbus, Wisconsin

Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Education and Training Grants totaling more than $325,000 over two years will support education and training opportunities for professionals, including medical assistants, mental health professionals and nursing assistants. Grants were awarded to:

• Gundersen – Friendship & Whitehall, Wisconsin
• Marshfield Clinic Health System – Marshfield, Wisconsin
• Marshfield Clinic Health System – Northern, Central and Western Wisconsin
• Upland Hills Health – Dodgeville, Wisconsin

WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding noted, “Maintaining and extending Wisconsin’s high-quality health care requires us to continuously develop the workforce necessary to provide care to every community in the state. These grants will contribute significantly to addressing workforce challenges in rural communities through a proven “grow your own” strategy WHA has long advocated.”