June 12, 2026

A New Chapter for EMS in the Northwoods

When someone calls 911 in a medical emergency, every minute matters. Today, residents across four Vilas County towns are receiving faster emergency response thanks to a bold regional effort to reimagine how EMS is delivered in the Northwoods.

Over the course of several months, local leaders worked together to study their options, engage community members, and develop a shared vision for the future of emergency medical services.

With technical guidance from EMS Outreach Program Manager James Small of the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, those conversations ultimately led to the four towns combining their service into the single, jointly funded Northwoods EMS District.

Since launching in January 2025, the Northwoods EMS District has provided 24/7 ambulance coverage staffed by full-time professionals and the impact has been immediate. Average response times across the district have dropped to about 13 minutes, down from 40 minutes or more in some cases under the towns’ previous models.

Read and watch the whole story of how collaboration, local leadership, and a commitment to community health helped transform EMS services in northern Wisconsin.

With contribution from Will Cushman at UW Office of Strategic Communication.

CAH Quality Corner

Q1 2026 HCAHPS data due via HQR on July 8, 2026.

Did you get a calendar invite for MBQIP due dates?

If not, email Samantha to get on the list to receive MBQIP reporting events linked to your calendar!

• Be sure to let us know who submits each MBQIP measure to be added to the specific measure's invite.
• Another opportunity to express this will be included in the SHIP Final Report form coming soon.

Team at Mayo Clinic Health System in Sparta.

SHIP Grant

June 15 is the last day to submit invoices for reimbursement for the 2025-26 grant year!

May 31st is the last day to incur expenses for reimbursement and June 15th is the last day to send an invoice.

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.
• 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.

*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.

Learn

NEW! Preparing for Wisconsin's Rural Technology Transformation Fund - gpTRAC

Monday, June 15, 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. - free webinar

• Explore practical steps organizations can take now to strengthen their readiness, including identifying potential projects and considering the types of technology initiatives that may align with funding priorities.
• For questions, contact Kevin Jacobson.

NEW! Virtual Panel: What's Next for Family Care? - Wisconsin Health News

Wednesday, June 17, 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. - free webinar

• Family Care, one of the state’s Medicaid long-term care programs, is undergoing changes.
• Join this panel taking a deep dive into the program and what’s next for it.

Conflict Resolution for Emergency Responders - Resolution Center, Inc.

Monday, July 27, 8 a.m.—4:15 p.m. or Tuesday, August 18, 8 a.m.—4:15 p.m.

• Learn how to support your well-being by effectively responding to interpersonal conflict, both at work and at home, through this highly interactive 1-day training.
• Location: Chippewa Falls (July 27) and Waupaca (August 18).
• Cost: $25 per person, with lunch provided.

Rural Health University - NOSORH

• Explore on-demand and live courses geared toward rural health professionals.
• Courses available: Financial Literacy for Nonprofit & Government Organizations, Fundamentals of Rural Grant Writing, Developing Competitive Grant Proposals.
• Cost varies per course.

Photo by Jesse Michael Renaud in Warrens.

Grants

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - USDA

• Amount: $10,000 to $500,000+ over three years.
• Application due date: June 16.
• Who can apply: Government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
• Description: Funding for projects that will increase the purchase of fruit and vegetables among low-income consumers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Three levels of funding and project scope. A 1 to 1 non-federal match is required.

NEW! Assistance to Firefighters Grants - Department of Homeland Security - FEMA

• Amount: Up to $9 million over two years.
• Application due date: June 22.
• Who can apply: Fire departments and non-affiliated EMS agencies.
• Description: Assistance to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards. Allowable expenses include vehicles, facility modifications, equipment, and wellness/fitness programs. A match up to 10%, depending on population served, is required. 

NEW! Community Connect Broadband Grant - USDA

• Amount: $100,000 - $5 million (15% non-federal cash match required).
• Application due date: June 29.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments, for and non-profit organizations. 
• Description: Grants for communities without broadband access to provide residential and business broadband service and connect police and fire stations, healthcare, libraries, and schools. Eligible expenses include constructing/acquiring facilities and providing free internet access to critical service providers.

NEW! Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Planning & Implementation Grants - Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

• Amount: Up to $100,000/year x 2 years (Planning) and up to $750,000/year x 4 years (Implementation)
• Application due date: July 8.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments, school districts, for profit businesses, and non-profit organizations.
• Description: Funding for communities to plan or implement substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services. 

NEW! Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program Grants - Office of Violence Against Women

• Amount: $500,000 - $950,000 for 36 months.
• Application due date: July 24.
• Who can apply: Local and Tribal governments and public and private non-profit organizations. 
• Description: Grants for projects designed to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in rural communities, as well as rural sexual assault nurse examiners. Funds can be used to establish, expand, create, or implement strategies to increase awareness and prevent violence, among others.

Rheumatology Grant Opportunity – Orion Initiative

• Amount: Amount varies based on factors such as the number of PCPs participating and whether equipment is purchased.
• Application due date: Spring/Summer 2026 for Fall 2026 start; Fall/Winter 2026 for Spring 2027 start.
• Who can apply: Rural hospitals.
• Description: Through the Specialty Training at Rural Sites-Rheumatology (STARS-R) grant opportunity, rural PCPs gain hands-on rheumatology and musculoskeletal training at no cost. Much of the training can occur without leaving the clinic, and participating hospitals are reimbursed for the time PCPs spend in training.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Review

NEW! MBQIP Quality Measures National 2024 Annual Report - Flex Monitoring Team

• Report summarizes reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) quality measures for 2024. 

UPDATED! State Profiles for MBQIP Quality Measures - Flex Monitoring Team

• The Flex Monitoring Team creates several reports containing state-level data related to community benefit activities, patient experience, and hospital compare quality measures. Additionally, many FMT publications reference specific states in analyses of Flex Program activities and CAH best practices.

Maternity Care Team - University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

The Maternity Care Team leads work documenting obstetric care access and conducting research on access to care around the time of childbirth for pregnant patients and infants, as well as maternal and infant health outcomes.

Photo from Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster

Apply for Awards

Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award - American Hospital Association

• Application Deadline: June 23.
• Award that honors the accomplishments of rural hospitals that demonstrate responsiveness, innovation, and excellence in developing, implementing, and sustaining programs and services.
• Geographic coverage: Nationwide.

NEW! Ron Nelson Award - National Association of Rural Health Clinics

• Application Deadline: Jun 30.
• Recognizes and honors an outstanding leader and champion for Rural Health Clinics.
• Geographic coverage: Nationwide.

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.

Photo by Jasmine Wiley in Almond.

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