Events

Jun. 4, 2025

Golf Registration

Wild Rock Golf Club
856 Canyon Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI  53965

Each golfer will be given 2 drink tickets.

Jun. 4, 2025

Golf Outing

Wild Rock Golf Club
856 Canyon Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI  53965
 

Jun. 4, 2025

Welcome Reception and Pre-conference Registration

Welcome Reception, with Heavy Appetizers and Bar    

Glacier Canyon Lodge 
45 Hillman Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI  53965
 

Jun. 5, 2025

Registration, Breakfast, and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 5, 2025

Welcome Remarks and Speaker Introduction

Derek Daly
CEO, Tomah Health
Chair, WHA Council on Rural Health
 

Jun. 5, 2025

Probable scenarios for the future of healthcare delivery

Nate Kaufman, Health Care Futurist and Managing Director and Founder
Kaufman Strategic Advisors

 

Jun. 5, 2025

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 5, 2025

The State of Health Care in Wisconsin

Eric Borgerding
CEO and President, WHA

Tim Size
Executive Director, RWHC

Eric Borgerding and Tim Size team up, once again, to discuss the current state of health care in Wisconsin, how health care providers are affected and how health care can affect the current environment.

Jun. 5, 2025

Lunch and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 5, 2025

Breakout Session 1

Session 1A    

How a Balanced Pain Management Program Creates Stability for a Rural Hospital and Its Medical Staff
Rural hospitals face increasing challenges to deliver comprehensive patient care while maintaining financial sustainability. A balanced approach to pain management services represents a critical opportunity to address both clinical and economic needs. Established in March of 2022, the Edgerton Hospital & Health Services – Pain Management Group partnership demonstrates a strategic approach to integrating specialized pain services into a rural medical community. This partnership has transformed patient care within the system by centralizing the treatment of one of the most common chronic conditions encountered by primary care providers in rural communities. Attendees will explore the timely economic benefits this collaboration produced, including increased OR block time utilization and increased ancillary service volumes for the facility. Join us to learn about how targeted specialty services can transform rural healthcare delivery, creating new opportunities for patient care and organizational resilience.

Marc Augsburger, CEO
Edgerton Hospital & Health Services

Doug Roberts, Regional Director of Operations
Pain Management Group
        

Session 1B    

TBD

       

Session 1C     

Building the Future of Rural Healthcare – Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare Access 
Planning your facilities for the growth in ambulatory care and demand to improve community access to rural healthcare. Exploring creative financing strategies for your project, including USDA funding, and which option best aligns with your community needs.  At the conclusion of this session, participants will understand the importance of strategic partnerships, have reviewed alternative financing models, understand the USDA funding - the process, pitfalls and benefits and learned how and when to engage stakeholders in the process.

Kyal Klawitter, VP, Project Management
MedCraft Healthcare Real Estate

Jun. 5, 2025

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 5, 2025

Breakout Session 2

Breakout Session 2

Session 2A    

Caring for Caregivers: Elevating the Patient Experience
As healthcare continues to evolve, the link between caregiver satisfaction and patient outcomes has never been more critical. This presentation aims to engage hospital leaders in understanding and addressing the pivotal role of caregiver experiences in delivering high-quality patient care. Given the recent insights from Cross Country Healthcare’s survey, which highlights the urgent need for technology-driven workforce solutions to tackle staffing challenges, this presentation will emphasize the intersection of caregiver experience, technology, and patient care.

Dr. Hank Drummond, PhD RN, Enterprise Chief Nurse Executive, Divisional Senior Vice President
Cross Country Healthcare
        

Session 2B 

Advanced Practice Providers: Using Claims Data to Mitigate Risk
Advanced Practice Providers (ARNPs, PAs, CRNAs and CNMs) are providing more healthcare than ever before, especially in rural areas. Claims that arise out of APP practice often result in high severity injury and high indemnity payments and are often due to faulty organizational systems and processes. This presentation will explore the types of claims that arise out of APP practice, the root causes of these claims and will provide recommendations/strategies for providers and organizations to help mitigate claims.

Marlene Icenhower, JD, BSN, RN, CPHRM, FASHRM
Coverys
        

Session 2C     

Rural Hospitals and the Mission of Keeping Care Local
Rural communities have increasingly complex health needs and struggle to access needed care, while rural hospitals seek to keep that care local in a financially sustainable manner.  This presentation will address the increased needs of Wisconsin’s rural health population and strategic opportunities for rural hospitals to improve their financial and operational efficiencies and enhance their coordination of care to strengthen their healthcare system. Key topics explored in this presentation include the current challenges facing rural communities, various rural health reimbursement strategies that align with community health needs, and strategies that align physicians and key stakeholders with the needs of the organization community.

Carl Selvick, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, President and  CEO
Black River Health

Stacy Gerber Ward, Shareholder
von Briesen & Roper
 

Jun. 5, 2025

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 5, 2025

Breakout Session 3

Breakout Session 3            

Session 3A    

Maximizing Pharmacy Opportunities: Market Trends for Healthcare Employers and 340b Strategies that Drive New Revenue to Your Hospital
The pharmacy market continues to evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities for employers and healthcare providers. In this session, we will explore the current state of the pharmacy landscape and highlight key trends impacting employers, including rising costs, benefit management strategies, and innovative approaches to pharmacy care. Additionally, we will uncover 340B pharmacy strategies that healthcare providers can leverage to drive new revenue streams. Attendees will gain actionable insights into optimizing 340B programs, improving operational efficiency, and capturing untapped financial opportunities. Join us to learn how employers and providers can adapt to market shifts while maximizing savings and revenue in today's dynamic pharmacy environment.

Connie Perry, Managing Director
Ethica Pharmacy Advisors, M3
        

Session 3B    

Beyond Survival: Strategic Initiatives for Critical Access Hospitals
This session will discuss the distinctive challenges faced by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and provide comprehensive and actionable insights into strategic initiatives that go beyond mere survival, fostering sustainable growth and excellence. Attendees will learn to identify and prioritize critical factors that contribute to survival and sustainability in today's healthcare environment, understand the fundamental components of strategic planning tailored to the specific strengths, needs, and limitations of Critical Access Hospitals, and identify specific strategic initiatives to consider for implementation.

Meredyth Lacombe, Senior Manager, Healthcare Consulting
Eide Bailly LLP
        

Session 3C     

Don’t Be AfrAId: Understanding and Assessing the Use and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
This presentation will discuss what health care organizations should consider when deciding to utilize artificial intelligence technologies within their businesses and in the provision of health care. Topics will include a basic understanding of what artificial intelligence is and how it works; common legal and risk considerations in deciding whether and what artificial intelligence technologies to implement; standards for artificial intelligence governance; and contractual considerations when negotiating with vendors.  By the end of the presentation, we hope attendees will take away practical advice on assessing and implementing artificial intelligence in their operations and not be afrAId of this emerging technology.

Stephane P. Fabus, Attorney
Hall Render
    

Jun. 5, 2025

Adjourn

Jun. 5, 2025

Exhibiting Showcase and Dinner, with Bar

Please join us for an evening of food, drink and the opportunity to visit and learn from our valueable Corporate Members. 

Jun. 6, 2025

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 6, 2025

Welcome Remarks and Speaker Introduction

Derek Daly, CEO, Tomah Health
WHA Chair, Council on Rural Health

Jun. 6, 2025

Achieving a Culture of Zero Violence: Leadership Strategies to Improve Healthcare Safety and Security Programs

Violence is one of the largest occupational hazards facing healthcare workers today. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2011 and 2013, just over 70 percent of all workplace assaults occurred in healthcare or social service settings. Violence reduction programs should be focused on developing a system-wide approach that recognizes every health care system is a community, with every floor being a unique neighborhood, each with different dynamics. Building trust, transparency and training along with implementing a system-wide strategy focused on reducing risk and anxiety through exceptional experience based nontraditional contacts, staff training, professionalism and critical incident response, forms the basis from which a strong security program is built.

Program topics include:

• How to implement community policing-based security models focused on trust, transparency, and training. These include engaging stakeholders using nontraditional methods, applying CPTED principles and changing traditional incentive models to reshape how security officers approach security.
• How to effectively implement security strategies such as firearms programs, Taser Programs, and Security K-9 Programs. Topics such as policy development, selection, and training along with clinical engagement prior to implementation.
• How to create law enforcement-based training scenarios designed for the healthcare environment clinical environment. Role-playing, simulation, use of proper venues, training safety, along with effective use of force simulators will all be covered.

Jun. 6, 2025

Break

Jun. 6, 2025

The Human Margin: Building Foundations of Trust

With fifteen years of experience in healthcare management, leadership and research, Dr. Meese is an award-winning scholar and author in organizational behavior, well-being, and leadership. Most importantly, she is on a mission to rehumanize the work of healthcare by using science to help leaders keep their people and keep them well. She currently serves as the CEO of HUmargin group, which takes a data-driven, scientific approach to help healthcare organizations solve their complex human challenges.  She has co-authored two textbooks on organizational behavior in healthcare used in over 160 schools nationwide, and The Human Margin: Building the Foundations of Trust with Quint Studer. Dr. Meese also teaches and mentors graduate, doctoral and executive students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). 


Katherine Meese, PhD

 

Jun. 6, 2025

Adjourn