Western Wisconsin Health Expands Birth Center Unit
Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) in Baldwin, Wisconsin serves patients in rural St. Croix, Pierce, and Dunn Counties. Due to reimbursement rates, the closure of many birth centers in our rural communities, including neighboring cities of River Falls and Menomonie, many patients must travel from further distances outside of our established service area to seek obstetrical services and maternal health care here at WWH. WWH wants to provide for these patients to keep them close to home, therefore WWH decided to not only keep our birth center open but to grow our services, despite low reimbursement rates. To address this barrier to access and capacity, WWH broke ground in September of 2023 for a hospital expansion, which will add four rooms to the medical-surgical wing and three rooms to the birth center wing.
WWH recognizes the need to grow for our patients and has seen a steady increase in deliveries over the last five years. In 2017 WWH delivered 170 babies and in 2021 delivered 225 babies, which is a 25% increase. WWH has already seen a 10% increase in births and anticipates 275 births by the end of 2023.
The community benefit regarding obstetrical services is shown through WWH growing hospital units for our rural population. The WWH foundation has been awarded and continues to seek grant funding not only to support the bricks and mortar portion of our expansion but to also support our obstetrical programming and workforce needs. The WWH team provides perinatal services, women’s health needs, behavioral health, and obstetrical care all at our Baldwin location but also has begun obstetrical services to some of the communities that no longer have a birth center such as River Falls. We are redefining rural health care for our families, mothers, and babies to achieve our mission of Building a Healthier Tomorrow together.
Western Wisconsin Health Provides School Based Behavioral Health Services
One of the most important health concerns identified by the most recent St. Croix County Community Health Needs Assessment is the increased need for mental health services. In response to this, Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) developed a Behavioral Health Program for local school districts that allows providers to see adolescent patients at the school, during school hours. This solution reduces two access-to-care barriers, by providing behavioral health services at a convenient location; and giving time back to the school so the child does not miss as much class time and the family does not have to schedule an appointment after work.
WWH partnered with the school districts of Baldwin-Woodville, Spring Valley, and Elmwood in 2022 to provide Behavioral Health Counseling. Last year, four WWH providers, Morgan Miller, Luke Owens, Nicole Helgeson and Lindsey Berg consistently counseled over 86 patients throughout the school year, with the cost of care totaling $322,220. WWH paid for the insurance coverage gap along with the provider travel expenses yielding a calculated community benefit of $158,220.
Through the most difficult times in a child’s young life, Western Wisconsin Health and its behavioral health providers are invested in supporting their overall health and wellness through mind, body, and spirit. The WWH school based behavioral health program is just one of the many ways Western Wisconsin Health is redefining rural healthcare to help achieve our mission of Building a Healthier Tomorrow, together.
