University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Announces New Rural Health Collaboration

The University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire has announced a new initiative to find solutions to the region’s health care crisis.

In a press release from the University, Chancellor James Schmidt said the goal of the Rural Health Innovation Alliance would be to create a sandbox model to spur innovation in the health care field. The alliance will include collaborations with multiple health care providers and others to share data and technology that could help the overall industry adapt to the challenges facing rural health care.

The Alliance hopes to make the Chippewa Valley the epicenter for testing innovative care models, and if successful those lessons could be applied on a national level. The success of the alliance could impact workforce development, clinical trials, and attract and retain entrepreneurs in the Chippewa Valley.

Another major aspect of the alliance is to educate and train the health care workers of the future at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Recently, the University announced a partnership with Mayo Clinic Health Systems to lease space in the school’s soon to be constructed new science building, integrating their research with the university. The Rural Health Innovation Alliance will give students hands-on learning opportunities to test these new health care solutions.

Funding for the alliance will be provided by the $9.4 million Workforce Innovation Grant that the University received in 2021 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The grant was specifically intended for the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire to focus on strengthening the health care workforce and improving access to health care throughout the region.