Sept. 17, 2026

Lovely to meet you!

Hello, WORH Rural Health Radar Readers! I'm Holly Marley-Henschen, the new communications manager at WORH, former communications specialist at UW Extension and lifetime member of the farm kid club. I grew up on a Centennial Farm in South-Central Illinois — originally dairy, but transitioned to beef in the 1970s.

I'm grateful for you and the work you do. I know what it's like to have to consider which hospital or ER is further away and which will have the best care available when you need it. I'm excited to share information and opportunities with you to improve health care in rural Wisconsin — a state I've been proud to call home for 16 years now.

Thank you for your patience during the brief pause in editions of Rural Health Radar. Now that I've stepped into Megan Polster's very capable shoes, we're back with news and opportunities — and a few new features to be on the lookout for.

Stay tuned for ways to spotlight the fantastic work you and your colleagues are doing in rural health care spaces — and check out the Celebrate section below for info about National Rural Health Day!

Due Soon

The Hybrid Hospital-wide Readmissions MBQIP measure is due on Oct. 1!
Find more information and resources here.

CAH Quality Corner

Annual Critical Access Hospital Inventory

It’s time again to fill out the annual Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment! The link to complete the assessment has been sent to specific individuals at each hospital. If you believe you should have received it and haven’t, please contact samantha.peck@wisc.edu.

Learn

Flex-Sponsored Opportunities

WORH EMS Operations and Management Course

Thursdays, Jan. 7-28 and Feb. 18-25, 6:30-8:45 p.m. on Zoom.

Gain the tools and insights you need to strengthen your skills to manage the operational and administrative responsibilities of EMS
12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) over a 13.5-hour course
Cost: $45

RWHC Nurse Residency Program

Cohort 1: October 2026-September 2027

Cohort 2: February 2027-January 2028

Nurse residents attend monthly interactive sessions focused on building confidence, critical thinking, and practical skills.
Participants also receive a Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Location: RWHC Office & Training Center, 880 Independence Lane, Sauk City, WI 53583
Cost varies by membership and number of attendees.

PFFCF Chippewa Falls First Responders Peer Support Training

Friday, Oct. 9-Sunday, Oct. 11, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Participants will leave prepared to facilitate several group crisis interventions—specifically Crisis Management Briefings, Defusings, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD).
Location: Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services: 1301 Chippewa Crossing Blvd Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Cost: $50 or no cost for MAP Teams

Other Opportunities

NOSORH Workforce+ Rural Healthcare Workforce Certification

First Cohort launches Oct. 8

Participants will engage in 12 live virtual sessions over nine months led by expert faculty, covering the full employee lifecycle in rural healthcare workforce development.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,995 per participant. Group pricing may be available for cohorts of 5+ participants.

WHA Substance Use Disorders Management Boot Camp

Thursday, Oct. 15-Friday, Oct. 16, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Participants will explore practical approaches to opioid and alcohol use disorders, buprenorphine treatment, harm reduction, stimulant use disorder, pain management, benzodiazepine tapering, peer support and recovery and other challenges commonly encountered in clinical practice.
Location: Bemis Conference Center, De Pere
Cost: FREE. Participants may earn up to 9.75 CEUs.

Wisconsin Safe Care Summit

Thursday, Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

This event gives Wisconsin health workforce practical skills for identifying and responding to domestic violence — and the local referral connections to back them up.
Location: Hilton Appleton Paper Valley Hotel
Cost: FREE

Horicon Marsh photographed by C. Leeten.

Tuition Reimbursement

Wisconsin EMS Education Reimbursement Program (2025 Wisconsin Act 35)

Covers tuition and required materials for EMS training programs completed through Wisconsin Technical Colleges.
Paid on a first-come, first served basis while funding is available.
Based on net cost after other financial aid has been applied.
Students and employers may apply. Program and certification or licensure must be complete.

Review

WORH’s own Samantha Peck was quoted in this article from Wisconsin Watch about work requirements for Medicaid that begin Jan. 1 in Wisconsin.

Records

The Department of Health Services requests that hospital organizations interested in support with statewide EHR updates complete the Wisconsin Statewide EHR Interest Survey here. Completing the survey does not commit your organization to participate. To be eligible, organizations must be in rural or semi-rural counties and perform ambulatory services. Organizations that provide inpatient services are not eligible.

National Rural Health Day 2026 is Thursday, Nov. 19!

You can get ready to celebrate by:

Exploring this National Rural Health Day Toolkit from NOSORH and
Nominating a colleague or organization to be recognized as a Community Health Hero! Community Health Heroes — organizations, programs and individuals — will be featured on social media, this newsletter and on the WORH website. Nominate at this link by Nov. 5!