Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Reedsburg, 2024 Community Benefits
RAMC Expands Behavioral Health
After our community health needs assessment in the spring of 2022, Reedsburg Area Medical Center (RAMC) recognized that we needed to expand our behavioral health offerings. In 2023, we were able to hire Dr. Jennifer Fiegel-Newlon, a DNP with specialized training in behavioral health, and Peter Gertonson, D.O., who is a board-certified psychiatrist, to be our medical director. We then were quickly able to hire a child and adolescent child and family therapist. In addition, Dr. Gertonson became clinical adjunct faculty at UW to begin training residents in rural psychiatry.
This has allowed the capacity of our program to more than quadruple. We are able to offer both medication management, and therapy, in the rural, underserved areas of Sauk county and are working on not only expanding our current offerings, but on collaboration with neighboring hospitals and clinics to provide consultation services as well.
This has allowed the capacity of our program to more than quadruple. We are able to offer both medication management, and therapy, in the rural, underserved areas of Sauk county and are working on not only expanding our current offerings, but on collaboration with neighboring hospitals and clinics to provide consultation services as well.
RAMC Offers Resources to Ease Financial Burden
In August 2022, Reedsburg Area Medical Center (RAMC) began offering a Medication Assistance Program. This program allows qualifying individuals to receive program-approved medications at no cost. Currently, there are over 100 program-approved medications. These medications are commonly used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, and heart disease, where expensive medications are routinely prescribed. Many individuals are not able to afford these important, and often times, life-saving medications. Other individuals take these medications differently than prescribed in order to make the medication last longer. It is our goal to improve access to these medications, optimize medication therapy, and prevent negative health outcomes through proper medication use. The Medication Assistance Program is one strategy used to reach this goal.
In 2023, 77 individuals were enrolled in the Medication Assistance Program and 94 different drugs were used including insulin, inhalers, and anticoagulants. Calculated savings to the patient is estimated to be around $172,000. The program has expanded to include individuals who discharging from the hospital the ability to receive a two-week supply of program approved medications.
Additionally, RAMC’s Hospital and Specialty and Physicians Group Clinic offer resources to ease the financial burden for those who are unable to or have limited ability to pay for emergency or medically necessary care. RAMC’s Community Care program gives individuals and families the ability to seek care without extra financial burden.
In 2023, both the Reedsburg Area Medical Center Hospital and Reedsburg Area Medical Center Specialty and Physician’s Group Clinic were able to support 3,107 individuals in 2023, totaling $953,000, combined.
In 2023, 77 individuals were enrolled in the Medication Assistance Program and 94 different drugs were used including insulin, inhalers, and anticoagulants. Calculated savings to the patient is estimated to be around $172,000. The program has expanded to include individuals who discharging from the hospital the ability to receive a two-week supply of program approved medications.
Additionally, RAMC’s Hospital and Specialty and Physicians Group Clinic offer resources to ease the financial burden for those who are unable to or have limited ability to pay for emergency or medically necessary care. RAMC’s Community Care program gives individuals and families the ability to seek care without extra financial burden.
In 2023, both the Reedsburg Area Medical Center Hospital and Reedsburg Area Medical Center Specialty and Physician’s Group Clinic were able to support 3,107 individuals in 2023, totaling $953,000, combined.
