Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Needs in Rural Communities
In July 2024, ThedaCare opened a new behavioral health clinic in Waupaca. The clinic is designed to enhance services and expand care options to those living in Northeast and Central Wisconsin, specifically in rural communities.
The clinic serves community members in Waupaca, New London, Manawa, Wautoma, Wild Rose and Weyauwega, as well as other surrounding areas.
“ThedaCare is committed to continuing to provide and enhance behavioral health care in our communities,” said Kellie Diedrick, vice president of critical access hospitals for ThedaCare. “We understand it is a critical need. Our teams have always provided great care, and now, we have the opportunity to care for more people.”
The new clinic offers various services, including: Substance Use Treatment, Mental Health Therapy, Outpatient Psychiatry and Group Therapy options. It also expands behavioral health treatment capacity and add additional providers, serving more people in the area.
“Renovating this clinic in Waupaca and repurposing it for outpatient behavioral health care was critical to meeting the needs of our community,” explained Julie Meyer, director of ThedaCare Behavioral Health. “We now have expanded space to allow for bringing more providers to the area, expanding our hours and to offer group therapy options.”
Every three years, ThedaCare hospitals conduct assessments of the health and well-being of the communities served. ThedaCare completes these assessments in partnership with other health systems, public health, Community Health Action Teams (CHAT), community members and many other stakeholders that are dedicated to maintaining an incomparable quality of life in our region.
The latest Community Health Needs Assessment, which focused on the Waupaca community, identified mental health as a top concern. To address the need, the report offered several recommendations. These included expanding behavioral health treatment capacity, opening a new behavioral health clinic in Waupaca and increasing the number of providers.
“The Covid pandemic brought forward many conversations about mental health needs and concerns, especially for people living in rural communities,” said Diedrick. “Often, people living in rural communities face different challenges than those living closer to cities. For example, there are often barriers when it comes to accessing transportation. Ride share, trains and buses aren’t always available in rural areas. We knew if we could provide a service in Waupaca County, we could get people access to mental health therapy services closer to home.”
In addition to the new clinic in Waupaca, ThedaCare has taken several steps to help provide additional mental health care and resources.
“We have a comprehensive behavioral health program across our service area,” said Diedrick. “And we saw the need for additional services in the western counties we serve. We're fortunate to have good partners – partners in the community and partners within ThedaCare – to find a solution to meet those needs.”
The clinic serves community members in Waupaca, New London, Manawa, Wautoma, Wild Rose and Weyauwega, as well as other surrounding areas.
“ThedaCare is committed to continuing to provide and enhance behavioral health care in our communities,” said Kellie Diedrick, vice president of critical access hospitals for ThedaCare. “We understand it is a critical need. Our teams have always provided great care, and now, we have the opportunity to care for more people.”
The new clinic offers various services, including: Substance Use Treatment, Mental Health Therapy, Outpatient Psychiatry and Group Therapy options. It also expands behavioral health treatment capacity and add additional providers, serving more people in the area.
“Renovating this clinic in Waupaca and repurposing it for outpatient behavioral health care was critical to meeting the needs of our community,” explained Julie Meyer, director of ThedaCare Behavioral Health. “We now have expanded space to allow for bringing more providers to the area, expanding our hours and to offer group therapy options.”
Every three years, ThedaCare hospitals conduct assessments of the health and well-being of the communities served. ThedaCare completes these assessments in partnership with other health systems, public health, Community Health Action Teams (CHAT), community members and many other stakeholders that are dedicated to maintaining an incomparable quality of life in our region.
The latest Community Health Needs Assessment, which focused on the Waupaca community, identified mental health as a top concern. To address the need, the report offered several recommendations. These included expanding behavioral health treatment capacity, opening a new behavioral health clinic in Waupaca and increasing the number of providers.
“The Covid pandemic brought forward many conversations about mental health needs and concerns, especially for people living in rural communities,” said Diedrick. “Often, people living in rural communities face different challenges than those living closer to cities. For example, there are often barriers when it comes to accessing transportation. Ride share, trains and buses aren’t always available in rural areas. We knew if we could provide a service in Waupaca County, we could get people access to mental health therapy services closer to home.”
In addition to the new clinic in Waupaca, ThedaCare has taken several steps to help provide additional mental health care and resources.
“We have a comprehensive behavioral health program across our service area,” said Diedrick. “And we saw the need for additional services in the western counties we serve. We're fortunate to have good partners – partners in the community and partners within ThedaCare – to find a solution to meet those needs.”
