Richland Center, WI—Leaders of The Richland Hospital and Clinics (TRHC) and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health announced their entrance into a new partnership to meet the challenges of rural health disparities in Wisconsin. The partnership is part of the Orion Initiative, a new program developed at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health to help people living in rural Wisconsin lead healthy lives through targeted investments in innovative collaborations.

People living in rural areas and communities experience worse physical, social, and mental health than people who live in urban locations. This is true across the U.S., but the problem is even more pronounced in Wisconsin.

“With particular optimism, we come together today to talk about the future of our organization, how we embark on this new partnership with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and how that’s going to make a difference to our organization and community,” said TRHC CEO Bruce Roesler during opening remarks at a recent event announcing the partnership.

Dr. Amy Kind, Orion Initiative chief executive officer and associate dean for Social Health Sciences and Programs, UW School of Medicine and Public Health recognized the significance of the inaugural partnership between TRHC and the school. Dr. Kind said, “Once fully implemented, the work coming out of this partnership will serve as a model for establishing similar partnerships and collaborative efforts through the Orion Initiative to address health care challenges in rural areas across Wisconsin.”

The Orion Initiative is expected to launch strategic pilot projects throughout rural areas of Wisconsin in the coming months.

In its early-phase partnership, the TRHC-Orion pairing will create pathways for a community of physicians to support each other through collaboration and shared resources. It will also allow an increased number of patients to access needed care – especially specialty care – without having to travel long distances.

TRHC provider Dr. James Dickman III confirmed the exceptional challenges around specialty care. “Over time, physicians who want to go into rural practice find it difficult to get experience in specialties,” he said. “Through the Orion Initiative, select TRHC providers will be able to gain the experience necessary to provide specialty care in Richland Center.”

For more information, visit the Orion Initiative website at med.wisc.edu/orion/.

The Richland Hospital and Clinics is a nationally awarded health care facility dedicated to caring, educating, and healing. TRHC operates an independent, integrated group medical practice in three locations, including rural health clinics in Spring Green and Muscoda and a critical access hospital at its primary location in Richland Center, WI.