Bellin Gives Back to the N.E.W. Community Clinic
Bellin Health and the N.E.W. Community Clinic (NEWCC) have partnered for decades to provide healthcare to the medically underinsured or uninsured in Green Bay. The partnership began in the 1970s and continues to address socioeconomic barriers and ensure healthcare services for patients and communities.
One key aspect of the partnership is the presence of physician volunteers from Bellin Health. Bellin and Gundersen Health System Co-Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Cynthia Lasecki has volunteered at NEWCC for over 20 years, utilizing her expertise in Family Medicine to serve patients. Lasecki values giving back to the community and recognizes the important care provided by NEWCC to an underserved population. In 2022, NEWCC served over 4,700 patients in its medical, dental and behavioral health clinics, totaling more than 14,000 patient visits.
Bellin Health’s Telehealth team also plays a crucial role in supporting NEWCC. For the past decade, the Telehealth team has provided after-hours phone support to ensure patients receive prompt and helpful assistance. This has amounted to over 130 calls per month, meeting patient needs regardless of the time of day.
Bellin Health also collaborates with other Green Bay hospitals to provide no-cost lab services on a rotating basis. This partnership alleviates the financial burden for NEWCC’s patients and ensures care remains affordable and accessible.
Bellin Health supported NEWCC’s adoption of the Epic electronic health records system in 2015, assisting with start-up costs and providing expertise. This continuity of care not only benefits NEWCC patients within the Bellin network but also across other health systems that use the platform.
Both Bellin Health and NEWCC are committed to expanding their partnership in the future and making a difference in the lives of more community members who rely on their services.
Healthcare Academy Partnership Prepares Medical Professionals of Tomorrow
Green Bay-area high school students are exploring future careers while helping address the health care workforce shortage thanks to an innovative partnership between Bellin Health and Bellin College.
The Healthcare Academy program allows high school students, most of whom begin as sophomores, to earn up to 42 college credits at a reduced cost while receiving classroom and hands-on instruction that could pave the way for their future careers. At the same time, the program allows the Bellin Health region—part of Bellin and Gundersen Health System—to develop promising young students into the healthcare professionals of tomorrow.
“This program is a win for the students, for Bellin College and for Bellin Health,” said Bellin Health Sports Medicine & Orthopedics Outreach Programs Director Phil Schaible. “The Healthcare Academy allows young people to explore medicine generally, or to hone in on a particular area of interest that is relevant to their future career. They can even train as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) as part of the program.”
The program launched in fall 2022 with a cohort of 39 students from three schools. It quickly grew to include more than 200 students from 11 schools for Fall 2023, and has the potential to grow even further, said Chad Dall, Bellin College Director of Outreach and Engagement.
“The intent of the Healthcare Academy is to help high school students find their passion in healthcare while providing a solid foundation of theory coursework and hands-on experiences,” Dall said. “There is a whole spectrum of careers in health care, and with the help of health care professionals, we can provide meaningful mentorships and job shadow opportunities to help solidify students’ interest in this field.”
