WHA - Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus, Oshkosh

Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus, Oshkosh, 2024 Community Benefits

Charity Care
Growing and Developing Our Health Care Workforce

Hospital Provides Free Lab and Radiology Services to Patients at St. Francis Community Free Clinic

For the last nine years, Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus has provided lab and radiology services at low or no cost to patients at Father Carr’s Place 2B St. Francis Community Free Clinic in Oshkosh.

“We serve a population of patients who are under or uninsured. Due to medical costs, most of our patients haven’t been able to prioritize their health, and oftentimes haven’t been to the doctor in years,” Emily Hill, St. Francis Community Free Clinic Director said. “That usually calls for several lab tests or imaging during their first appointment with us.”

During a patient visit, the medical staff at St. Francis Community Free Clinic draws labs on site and sends them to Ascension Mercy for analysis. In addition, if patients of the free clinic need an x-ray or other imaging, such as an MRI, clinic staff give them a voucher for an appointment at Ascension Mercy to receive those services.

“Because we have a lot of patients who are under the federal poverty level, at times they’re faced with choices between buying groceries and getting a checkup,” Hill said.

Without insurance, x-rays and laboratory tests can cost hundreds of dollars.

“If a patient hasn’t been to the doctor in 15-20 years, they can come to us and get checked out for free and we get them any medications they need right away. If we didn’t have this service, they would likely still not be treated because they couldn’t afford it,” Hill said. “Being able to offer these free services to our patients makes a huge difference for their quality of life and overall health.”

Ascension Mercy’s Project Search Advances Careers for Young Adults with Disabilities

**Intern Elizabeth Wood accepts a certificate at Project SEARCH graduation.**

This year, seven young adults graduated from the Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus Project SEARCH program joining more than 200 others across the state.

Project SEARCH is a statewide internship program that runs during the school year and provides employment and educational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The program is targeted to young adults whose goals are to obtain competitive employment upon completion. An instructor and job coach work with the interns and participating businesses to provide on-the-job training.

“Hosting Project SEARCH benefits the interns, but it also has a positive impact on our culture, and it supports our mission of caring for those most in need,” Amy Brownson, Ascension Mercy Manager of Volunteer Services said. “It’s uplifting to see our staff mentoring the interns throughout the year and then attending the Project SEARCH graduation to recognize their growth and achievement.”

At Ascension Mercy and Franciscan Courts, interns receive classroom instruction on employability and life skills, as they work together to learn how to perform internship tasks independently. The program’s goal is to eliminate individuals’ barriers to employment.

“I learned a lot,” Project SEARCH intern Elizabeth Wood said. "I wasn't good at interacting with strangers when I first started, but my mentors helped me work on that, and now, I'd love to get a customer service job."

During her internship, Elizabeth improved her conversational skills through several tasks, including the transportation of patients in wheelchairs throughout the hospital.

Ascension Mercy has hosted and trained 88 interns since 2016, and has hired interns in the areas of maintenance, dietary, nursing, food service and environmental services.

Project Search is a collaboration of community businesses and agencies including Goodwill, the Oshkosh Area School District, Lakeland Care, TMG Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.