By Ryma Lindquist, WWH
BALDWIN, WI – Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) was honored to host a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, to celebrate the opening of the newly expanded Medical Surgical and Obstetrical Departments. Over 100 community members, business leaders, board members, funders, local chamber members, and current and former staff attended this joyous occasion.
WWH CEO, Eilidh Pederson, highlighted the significance of this expansion for the Baldwin area community, praising the talented and compassionate team for making WWH an exceptional place to work and receive care. The event featured a timelapse video of the construction project, generously provided by the General Contractors of the project, Market and Johnson.
Following the ceremony, guided tours of the new Medical Surgical (Med/Surg) and Obstetrical (OB) departments were offered, impressing many attendees with the additional space and enhanced facilities.
WWH extends heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make this event a success and to all who attended. Special appreciation goes to the generous funders of the expansion project: Beverly Lightfoot, Mark and Jackie Tyler, Compeer Financial, Titus Strategies, Anderson Corporate Foundation, Pillar Bank, Hardenbergh Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, Fred C. and Katherine B. Anderson Foundation, philanthropic donors who gave during WWH’s golf events and Rose Gold gala, Kwik Trip, Senator Tammy Baldwin for her support in of WWH being awarded $1M in bipartisan congressional direct spend funding.
The need for this expansion is driven by the lack of access to obstetrical services in surrounding communities and the growing need for hospitalizations, extended stays post-surgery, and transitional care. This expansion will help WWH meet the needs of local patients and the growing communities they serve. The additional spaces allow for families to receive essential medical care close to home.
The region of Western Wisconsin is facing an obstetrical desert, with several hospitals closing their birthing centers over the last few years. River Falls Area Hospital, Mayo’s Hospitals in Barron, and Menomonie, HSHS, and Prevea in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls have all ceased offering these critical services. This has created a significant gap in care that WWH aims to close for residents of our rural communities. Without these services, families have limited or no options for safe childbirth close to home. WWH is committed to sustainably offering obstetrical and hospital-based care for those in need.
The expansion includes three new OB rooms, which are imperative for accommodating the over 400 births expected in 2024. Labor and delivery patients will benefit from a state-of-the-art facility that includes a serene environment. There is a large water birth suite with a birthing tub, access to nitrous oxide for pain management, and beautiful large windows overlooking the community trail and nature, allowing expecting mothers to walk around and experience nature during labor.
The Medical Surgical department has added four additional rooms, expanding WWH’s capacity to allow for more patients without sending them to other medical facilities in larger cities. The private rooms feature large windows and are located close to physical therapy, providing easier access for rehabilitative care. This expansion supports WWH’s goal of keeping patients close to home when they require extended stays for recovery and transitional care services.
WWH continues to see an increase in patient admissions, especially among those who did not receive necessary care during the pandemic. This expansion enables WWH to provide high-quality care for acute patients and those requiring swing bed care, ensuring community members can receive the care they need locally.
“This expansion showcases the beauty of our new spaces and our patient-centered approach,” stated Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health. “By providing a place of healing, we aim to meet the care needs of our community and region. On a national level, WWH is making a bold move to save rural obstetrical care at a time when other facilities are closing. By stepping up to fill this critical gap, WWH is part of the solution, demonstrating that providing rural obstetrical care is not only possible but essential for the health and well-being of our communities.” For more information, please contact: Western Wisconsin Health at 715-684-1111.
WWH is dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to the communities of Western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art facilities and compassionate staff ensure that patients receive the highest quality care close to home. WWH continues to expand and innovate to meet the evolving needs of our patients and communities. Western Wisconsin Health is redefining rural healthcare as we strive to achieve our mission of “Building a Healthier Tomorrow, Together.”
