May 14, 2026

Happy Hospital Week!

National Hospital Week, May 10-16, 2026, is an opportunity to highlight Wisconsin hospitals and health systems for the many ways Healing Happens Here. 

Read more with Wisconsin Hospital Association.

Next: EMS Week!

EMS Week, May 17-23, 2026, honors the EMS profession with the theme of "Improving Outcomes, Together."

As part of the celebration next week, we will be highlighting a program that James Small, Rural EMS Outreach Manager, has been working on. Stay tuned!

Quality Corner

Core MBQIP measures for CAHs due on Friday, May 15:

• HCP/IMM-3 due via NHSN (Q4 2025 - Q1 2026)
• OP-22 due via HQR (CY 2025 aggregate)

Did you get a calendar invite for these MBQIP due dates? If not, reach out to get on the list to receive MBQIP reporting events linked to your calendar!

ED staff at Stoughton Hospital photographed by Laura Mays.

SHIP Grant

ONE MORE MONTH 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.

Questions about SHIP?

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.

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.

SHIP 2026-27 - On The Horizon

This year, we are thrilled to let you know that Wisconsin will receive around 12% more in SHIP funding than previous years! 

While some extra funding is a straightforward win for many of you, it's also evident from many invoices we have received that not everyone will be able to use the extra ~$1,500 towards the expense they initially selected. 

As such, each person who previously filled out the SHIP 26/27 application will receive an email tomorrow (May 15th) with a link, allowing you to select from the following options: 

1. Allocate all funds to original selection (i.e. your hospital will receive ~$14,100 for HCHAPS reimbursement).
2. Allocate 75% or more to your original selection and receive additional reimbursement for another expense (use this search tool to find out more about allowable expenses) - please indicate. (i.e. your hospital will receive ~$12,300 for HCAHPS reimbursement and ~$2,100 for another allowable investment).
3. Allocate $12,300 to original selection, and receive assistance from a WORH-selected contractor to complete the CAH Quality Inventory Assessment in September. (i.e. your hospital will receive $12,300 for HCAHPS reimbursement and CAH Quality Inventory Assessment assistance in lieu of additional funds). 

This selection must be completed before May 29th to ensure contracts can be distributed promptly thereafter. If you have any questions, please email me at samantha.peck@wisc.edu or join us tomorrow, May 15th, for our office hours. 

Learn

NEW! Grant Writing Without Grief Webinar - WORH

Friday, June 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

• This webinar equips health care staff involved in program development and funding with the skills to interpret RFPs, craft compelling grant proposals, and align projects with funder priorities to improve their success in securing funding.
• Virtual, no cost.

NEW! 6th Annual Virtual CAH Conference - Stroudwater

Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. - Thursday, June 18, 2:00 p.m.

• This event brings together clinical, financial, operational, and strategic best practices and real-world case studies from Critical Access Hospitals.
• Virtual, no cost.

NEW! Promoting Food Security in Northern Wisconsin - Wisconsin Partnership Program

Thursday, June 11, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Learn about a WPP-supported community-academic partnership between Marshfield Clinic and UW-Stevens Point to improve food security for children and families in rural northern WI. 
• Location: UW-Stevens Point University Center, Stevens Point.
• Cost: None. Light refreshments provided.

NEW! 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.

Sunrise near Richland Center photographed by Bobbi Jo Larson.

Grants

Community Grants - Prevent Cancer Foundation

• Amount: $50,000 x two years.
• Application due date: May 20.
• Who can apply: Rural non-profit organizations, government and public agencies, Tribal organizations, and social and fraternal organizations with operating budgets between $1 million and $8 million.
• Description: Projects focused on cancer prevention, including cancer screenings, vaccinations, and patient navigation, with broad community support.

Safe Streets and Roads for All - U.S. Department of Transportation

• Amount: $100,000-$25M; 20% match required.
• Application due date: May 26.
• Who can apply: Municipal and tribal governments and planning organizations.
• 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.

Emergency Response Equipment Grant - Compeer Financial

• Amount: Up to $7,500.
• Application due date: May 31.
• Who can apply: Rural volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance departments located within the Compeer Financial Service Area.
• Description: Grants for essential response and responder safety equipment.

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

Real-world Evidence to Advance Community Health (REACH) Program - DHS & UW Madison

• The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is leading a three-year (2024–2027) CDC-funded community biomonitoring project to improve their understanding of how rural residents in Wisconsin are exposed to (or are in contact with) metals, pesticides, and nitrate.
• This project is taking place among rural communities with a higher chance of exposure to groundwater contaminants that rely on private wells for drinking water.

Apply for Awards

Maude's Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer's Care

• Application Deadline: May 19.
• Offers a monetary award for organizations and individuals excelling in care for persons living with dementia.
• Geographic coverage: Nationwide.

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.

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.

Baxter's Hollow State Natural Area in Freedom photographed by Tessa Whitemarsh.

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.