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On Deck with Samantha Peck
Rural Hospital & Clinics Program Manager
Thank you to everyone who completed our Flex survey and participated in recent feedback sessions. Your input directly shapes our 2026–27 planning, and we’re grateful for your candor and time.
Here’s what we learned from your feedback:
1. Direct‑to‑Hospital Grants (D2H) are worthwhile investments.
D2H improvement and planning grants were the most frequently selected and valued Flex offerings. Hospitals and EMS agencies consistently shared that these funds make the biggest impact because they support locally designed solutions.
2. The Rural Health Workforce is under pressure.
We didn’t need a survey to tell us this, but it’s great to have the data to support what we already knew! Workforce recruitment and retention was the top priority overall, closely followed by staff burnout and wellbeing. Survey ratings show that staff availability is one of the strongest factors influencing participation in Flex programming.
3. Quality, Finance, and Community Health Remain Core Priorities.
Meeting quality metrics, financial sustainability, and community health needs were selected most often as improvement focus areas. Many of you emphasized the need for “doable” quality strategies that don’t rely on adding staff.
4. Administrative Burden Matters.
Administrative effort and reporting requirements scored high as a participation barrier. From both survey comments and sessions, we heard interest in simpler processes, clearer timelines, and practical tools like calendar-based reminders for MBQIP deadlines.
5. Technical Assistance and Training Are Highly Valued.
Technical assistance and consultants, workforce training (Nurse and Quality Residency), finance workshops, and EMS leadership and mental health programs were all strongly supported.
What? So what? Then What?
Your feedback confirmed that we should continue to focus on many of the programs we are already funding. We received many helpful suggestions for new projects, tweaks on existing projects, and insight about how to make participation more worthwhile.
We’ll be making the following updates in our application for 2026-27 funding:
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D2H Grants: We’ll be adding more funding to D2H grants, and broadening the scope of existing D2H grants to focus more on the strategic priorities you identified.
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Technical Assistance: We have received very positive feedback regarding some contractors, and mixed reviews of others. We’re working to ensure that ALL programs to which you dedicate staff time are worthwhile.
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Administrative burden: While there are certain administrative requirements that are out of our hands, we are constantly working to streamline your user experience. If you have any suggestions for the WORH Flex team, please let us know!
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State Offices of Rural Health Regional Meeting
Last week, our office met with other State Offices of Rural Health including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio, as well as staff from our funders at the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). Gathering our region and federal funders helps us to share what's going on in our states, learn from each other, identify areas for partnership, and offer suggestions to FORHP to create more impactful programming.
During their visit to Wisconsin from Rockville, MD, we took staff from FORHP for a quick stop at Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, where they met with hospital leaders to hear about about the highlights and challenges facing Wisconsin's rural hospitals. They also got to chat with hospital staff participating in some of the programs funded by their office through WORH, like HCAHPS Improvement, Antimicrobial Stewardship, and others. Perhaps most importantly, Edgerton staff were kind enough to introduce our guests to the joy of KwikTrip glazers!
| | Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) staff and Edgerton Hospital leaders. | |
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Can we host a class at your hospital?
We’re working to bring more of our programming directly to you by hosting workshops, classes, and meetings at hospitals across the state. As part of this effort, we’re building a list of hospitals with space available to host events now and in the future.
For our first opportunity, we’re seeking a rural hospital to host our next Flex-funded Conflict Resolution for First Responders class for hospital staff and local first responders.
In partnership with Resolution Center Inc., this daylong course focuses on communication and conflict-resolution skills under pressure, the impacts of stress and trauma, and practical strategies for navigating challenging interactions. All instruction and materials are covered by grant funding - we just need a room that can accommodate 40–50 people.
If your hospital is interested in hosting this class or future events, please email Samantha Peck to learn more or volunteer your space!
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Less than 10% of SHIP grantee hospitals have invoiced for their SHIP funds.
The end of the grant year is on the horizon - May 31st is the last day to incur expenses for reimbursement and June 15th is the last day to send an invoice.
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Questions about invoicing?
Pop into this open office hour to get your questions answered live with Samantha Peck and Megan Polster.
Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m.
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Invoicing tips
- Reference this Example SHIP Invoice for instructions on completing the invoice.
- The Purchase Order (P.O.) Number is found in the first line of your Funding Award Agreement with UW Madison and appears as #CON-0000xxxx.
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Email invoices for HCAHPS and other pre-approved expenses* directly to the UW's Research and Sponsored Programs team for reimbursement using the invoice template below.
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*SHIP expenses
Hospitals that selected the direct funding option must use their funds for purchasing HCAHPS first. Any leftover funding can be used for other pre-approved expenses discussed with Samantha Peck.
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4/16 is LAST DAY to register!
Peer Support & Group Crisis Intervention Training - Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation
April 27-29, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- This intense three-day course is designed to equip first responders with the core knowledge and skills needed to provide immediate, practical peer support to fellow responders following critical incidents.
- Participants will learn the essential elements of a comprehensive, systematic, and multi-component crisis intervention approach, with a strong focus on peer-driven support strategies used within police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and other first responder communities.
- Location: Langlade County Safety Building, Antigo.
- Cost: $50.
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Rural Oncology Conference - Rural Cancer Institute - CEUs available
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Conference will feature expert-led educational sessions, research presentations, and opportunities for collaboration focused on addressing disparities, advancing rural oncology research, and strengthening care delivery across rural settings.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN.
- Cost: $75.
NEW! Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs - webinar
Monday, May 4, 2:00 p.m.
- This webinar, hosted by the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) and presented by Stroudwater, will highlight practical strategies to help rural hospitals assess and strengthen the financial sustainability of Labor & Delivery services.
- Highlighting key insights from the Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs brief, this session will cover approaches to improving how costs are tracked and reported, understanding the financial performance of Labor & Delivery services, and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and partnerships.
Surgical Collaborative of Wisconsin's 2026 Annual Meeting - CMEs available
Saturday, May 16, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Join surgeons and quality leaders from across Wisconsin for a day of learning, discussion of challenging cases, and sharing innovative approaches to patient care.
- Location: Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wisconsin Dells.
- Cost: Registration is FREE and includes all meals on Saturday.
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NEW! Rheumatology Training Opportunity - Orion Initiative
8 sites available
- Through Specialty Training at Rural Sites-Rheumatology (STARS-R), PCPs receive on-site, no cost, hands-on rheumatology and musculoskeletal training, delivered by UW academic rheumatologists.
- Grant funds reimburse rural hospitals for PCP time spent training, equipment, and implementation costs.
- Simple, straightforward application process. To learn more, contact Jennifer Stegall.
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View from Gibraltar Rock in Lodi photographed by Michael Knapstein. |
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Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Amount: $400,000/year for up to five years.
- Application due date: April 20.
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Who can apply: Community-based primary care or behavioral healthcare settings, emergency departments, public health agencies. There is a separate grant for state agencies.
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Description: Grants to health systems to implement the Zero Suicide framework, a comprehensive, multi-setting approach to child and youth suicide prevention.
Community Impact Grant - Wisconsin Partnership Program
- Amount: $250,000 for up to three years.
- Application due date: Letter of Intent (required) due April 22, full application due July 27 (if invited).
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Who can apply: Nonprofit tax-exempt organizations, nonprofit or public schools or districts, and Tribal, state or local government entities with annual expenses less than $1,000,000.
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Description: Grants for community partnership initiatives that address the social determinants of health to advance health equity.
NEW! Community Ties Giving Program - Union Pacific Foundation
- Amount: $5,000 - $30,000.
- Application due date: April 30.
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Who can apply: Not for profit organizations located in a community served by Union Pacific.
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Description: Funding efforts to help the well-being of communities served by Union Pacific. Grants aim to support First Responders, create recreational opportunities including parks and trails, and other areas.
Helping Hands Grant - American Psychiatric Association
- Amount: $5,000.
- Application due date: May 1.
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Who can apply: Medical schools on behalf of medical students.
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Description: Grants for community mental health and substance use disorder projects that are initiated and managed by medical students in partnership with community agencies or in conjunction with ongoing medical school outreach activities.
General Grant Program - Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation
- Amount: $50,000 to $60,000.
- Application due date: May 12.
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Who can apply: Eligible organizations include but are not limited to nonprofit and for-profit organizations, healthcare facilities, academic institutions, and physician organizations. Preference given to applicants in communities that Coverys serves.
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Description: Funding for projects to improve patient care and safety, advance patient health outcomes, improve chronic disease management, or support healthcare professionals and organizations.
Community Grants - Alliant Energy
- Amount: Not stated but past grants range from $250 to $2,000.
- Application due date: Deadlines throughout the year, the next is May 15.
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Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations, charitable programs, and government entities in communities served by Alliant Energy.
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Description: Grants for programs that address hunger, housing, transportation, outdoor activities, and fund first responder equipment, among other areas.
NEW! Safe Streets and Roads for All - U.S. Department of Transportation
- Amount: $100,000-$25M; 20% match required.
- Application due date: May 26.
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Who can apply: Municipal and tribal governments and planning organizations.
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Description: Funding to support planning, infrastructure, and behavioral and operational initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users. Both planning and implementation funding is available.
NEW! Seeds for Stewardship Grants - CHS
- Amount: $1,000-$10,000.
- Application due date: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis; can apply for and receive two grants/year.
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Who can apply: Any member-cooperative, such as Cenex, or CHS ag retail location is eligible to apply. Grant requests must be submitted by a cooperative on behalf of a local organization.
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Description: Grants for projects that strengthen communities. Project examples include health and safety education programs students. equipment for emergency responders, and grain bin safety equipment and training.
| Please contact Kevin Jacobson, WORH Loan Assistance Program Manager, for help identifying grant opportunities to support your important work or go to the WORH website. | | |
Photo Features
Send us your pictures of rural Wisconsin life to be featured in Rural Health Radar!
Email pictures to Megan and include a brief description, where the photo was taken, and the name of the photographer.
| | Rainbow after the storm photographed by Cheryl Toeller in Clinton. | | |
Looking for past issues of Rural Health Radar? Perhaps you saw something important, and need a reminder of the registration or application deadline? We've got your back. See past issues on our website near the newsletter sign-up section.
Your feedback on this newsletter and our overall communication efforts are always welcome, too.
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