Free Clinics

I just found out about this great video on a free health clinic in Boscobel, the Inhealth CommunityWellness Clinic.   Free clinics are a necessary part of the health care safety net, given our current economic and budget situation and the rising cost of health care.  There are a few online directories of clinics in Wisconsin, including Free Clinics of the GreatLakes Region.  The WI Department of Health Services has what appears to be a pretty comprehensive list ofstate clinics. It includes hours, address, and website.  There are about 50 in Wisconsin.

Inhealth derives some of their funding from a thrift shop. Like all free clinics, they also depend on donations.  Grants are another possible funding source for clinics.  Here are a few you might look in to:

The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust will accept proposals through August 15 for their HealthCare Services for Underserved Populations program.  They will award grants of $10,00-$50,000 to non-profits, including one-time capital needs, which is rare for most funders.

Also due August 15 are proposals for the Healthy Smiles, HealthyChildren Access to Care Grant.  Awards up to $20,000 can be used to cover the cost of dental supplies and education material.

The WisconsinDental Association’s Foundation is also awarding grants to programs promoting oral health.  Awards up to $10,000 will help cover costs of dental supplies and clinic operating expenses.  Due August 31.

June 30, 2011 · KJacobson · No Comments
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WI Office of Rural Health Workshop Roundup

A couple weeks ago, the WI Office of Rural Health hosted a workshop, Hospital Foundations: Managing for Success.  I can honestly say this was one of the best events we’ve hosted.  We recorded the day; it’s available from our website, about halfway down the page under Hospital & Clinic Leadership & Management.  This is where we post recordings of our events, presentations and other material.  Look around—we have resources for hospitals, clinics, and EMS.

Upcoming WI-ORH events include our annual rural hospital finance workshop.  It will be August 30 at the Rural WI Health Cooperative in Sauk City.  More information is on our website.  We have a great series of events coming up this fall, including a hands on grant seeking workshop and presentations by USDA Rural Development and WI Department of Agriculture on resources available for rural health care organizations.  Keep eye on the Rural Reporter for information.  I encourage you to subscribe to stay on top of rural health news and opportunities. Read the rest of this post »

June 21, 2011 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Conferences and Webinars, Training and Tools

Hospital Foundation Workshop

The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health will host a free workshop June 10 in Sauk City, Hospital Foundations: Managing for Success.  This is the latest in our series of workshops and informational sessions to help rural health care providers maintain and improve operations and service.  Whether you currently have a foundation and are interested in improving operations or you’re thinking of starting a foundation, you’ll find this workshop useful.  Two experienced development and foundation professionals will address topics such as: Read the rest of this post »

June 1, 2011 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , ,  Â· Posted in: Conferences and Webinars, Grant Advice

EMS Frequent Users

Rural EMS, at least in Wisconsin, is chronically short of resources.  Funds, equipment, staff—pretty much everything needed to run an emergency response agency.  If you’re involved with an EMS, this certainly isn’t news to you.  Most public agencies rely on town or county funding.  In case you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ll know that municipalities don’t have a lot of resources to spare these days.  A bad situation for EMS (and everyone else who relies on public funds) will probably only get worse.  EMS have relied on a variety of fund raising techniques to fill these gaps—chili cook-off’s, t-shirt sales, raffles, just to name a few.

But what if, in addition to looking for ways to raise money, EMS could identify ways to reduce costs while providing improved care to their community?  And they could this while developing closer relationships with other community health care providers? Read the rest of this post »

February 21, 2011 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , ,  Â· Posted in: Program Updates

In Wisconsin, the Buy Local Movement Now Includes Hospitals

Two hospitals in western Wisconsin recently announced they’ve committed 15% of their food budget to locally produced food.  Sacred Heart (Eau Claire) and St. Joseph’s (Chippewa Falls) Hospitals will buy approximately $345,000 from local producers each year, including produce, beef, poultry, and cheese.  The Hospitals will purchase their food through the Producers & Buyers Co-op, a cooperative representing twenty farmers and other producers in a ten county region of western Wisconsin. Read the rest of this post »

December 10, 2010 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , ,  Â· Posted in: Reports and Studies

Office of Rural Health Community Grants, Part VI: Safety and Injury Prevention

My final visit with one of the Office’s Community Grant recipients last month was in Adams County.  I met with the Injury Prevention and Trauma Coalition at Moundview Memorial Hospital in Friendship to talk with them about their Adams County Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Initiative, for which they received a planning grant.  The Hospital, Adams County Public Health, Aging and Sheriff Departments, Curtis Ambulance, City of Adams Police, Adams-Friendship Schools and UW Extension are all coalition members.  Read the rest of this post »

November 21, 2010 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Conferences and Webinars, Grant Advice, Program Updates, Reports and Studies

Office of Rural Health Community Grants, Part V: Driver Safety

Last month I met with the Juneau County Coalition for At-Risk Drivers at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.  The Coalition is another recipient of our rural community grants.  Their Safer Driver Initiative will plan and pilot a driver-screening program to assist the elderly and others with medical conditions that could lead to unsafe driving practices.  The Coalition represents several County organizations in addition to Mile Bluff; Department of Aging and Disability, Sheriff’s Department and County Emergency Services. 

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November 16, 2010 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Grant Advice, Program Updates, Reports and Studies

Office of Rural Health Community Grants, Part IV: Medication Safety

I visited Antigo recently, where I met with members of the Community Partners for Medication Safety coalition, who received an Office of Rural Health grant to implement their Medication Safety Red Bag Expansion Program.  Coalition members include Langlade Hospital, Antigo Fire and EMS Departments, Langlade County Health and Aging Departments and Aspirus Visiting Nurses Association.  This Program is a follow up to an earlier community grant effort.  The project has two elements, both of which aim to reduce the incidence of drug abuse, misuse and inappropriate disposal in the County.  The Red Bag program distributes bags to those in the community that have a large number of prescription medications. (Pictured at left in three sizes)  Read the rest of this post »

November 5, 2010 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Grant Advice, Program Updates, Training and Tools