Wisconsin Office of Rural Health

10/01/2026

Mark your calendar! and WORH invite you to celebrate the on 11.19.26 for .

Join the nationwide celebration and find ways to get involved at powerofrural.org.

Image description: The National Rural Health Day logo above a bronze ribbon that reads “15th Anniversary” in white text, above a green ribbon that reads “Celebrating the Power of Rural!” in white text. Gold and green ribbons are behind the text.

09/21/2026

WORH Rural Hospitals and Clinics Program Manager Samantha Peck spoke with Wisconsin Watch about how Medicaid cuts could play out in rural health care settings.

https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisconsin-medicaid-work-requirements-nebraska-montana-health-badgercare-plus/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUeMwFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTZIWDhPTG1sNFo4WkdaWTdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeCGrPzFKyqXf1DmLDYaG47V8fuuryJ4FY1mjIBaaO0WaP9mbBsm5fKmDAPvA_aem_A9OTB8eezI61btlkljLngw

From the article:

Medicaid cuts are expected to hit rural hospitals hardest. A March report by Public Citizen found 446 hospitals nationwide were at risk of closing or reducing services due to cuts. Samantha Peck, rural hospitals and clinics program manager for the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, manages funds that benefit critical access hospitals across the state.

About 13% of patients in Wisconsin hospitals use Medicaid, but Peck said critical access hospitals in Door County, Oconto, Shawano and New London average about 48% of patients on Medicaid, leaving them particularly vulnerable if more patients lose coverage.

Maternal and mental health programs could be among the first cut, Peck said.

“The biggest worry is that community hospitals will start reducing service lines,” Peck said. “What we’re already seeing is a reduction in maternal care, specifically labor and delivery.”

09/08/2026

🚨 ATTENTION: TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW!

The EMS Tuition Reimbursement Program (2025 Wisconsin Act 35), WEMSA's #1 legislative priority last session, is officially LIVE. Apply today and get real money back for your EMS education.

You qualify if the following two questions are true for you:
✅ Did you complete initial EMR, EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic training on or after October 22, 2025 at a Wisconsin Technical College?
✅ Are you a Wisconsin student who paid for your own training OR are you a Wisconsin employer who paid for an employees training?

💰 WHAT'S COVERED: Tuition, required materials, uniforms, clinical equipment, and testing/licensure fees (NREMT, Pearson VUE). NO cap on reimbursement! This reimbursement is NOT counted as income.

👉 Apply now through HEAB's application form: https://glass.wisconsin.gov/WI/ApplicationProcess/ApplicationMainPage
👉 Email your documents to HEAB
👉 More details & FAQs on our website: https://www.wisconsinems.com/tuition-reimbursement

Don't wait, apply TODAY!

09/02/2026

🚨 First responders near Chippewa Falls can join the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation, Inc. for a peer support and group crisis intervention training Oct. 9-11.

Get the details and register at
https://pffwcf.networkforgood.com/events/102495-chippewa-falls-peer-support-training

Peer Support Training!

Join the PFFW Charitable Foundation for public safety peer support and group crisis intervention training in Chippewa Falls, WI on October 9-11. This three-day course is designed to equip first responders – including fire, EMS, and law enforcement personnel – with the core knowledge and skills needed to provide immediate, practical peer support to fellow responders following critical incidents. The cost is $50 and includes lunch. See the comments section for a course description and registration information. ⬇️

08/19/2026

🚨EMS Professionals: Are you a supervisor, manager or leader in your agency — or interested in learning more about agency management and operations?

You can gain the tools and insights you need to strengthen your skills to manage the operational and administrative responsibilities of EMS with the EMS Operations Management & Leadership Course from the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.

While earning 13.5 CEUs, you’ll:

✅ Review key attributes of a successful EMS agency

✅ Identify positive and negative characteristics of a leader/manager

✅ Discuss budgets and income, including grants, tax levies and other funding sources

✅ Discuss recruitment and retention, human resources and just culture

✅ Understand the compliance requirements of the EMS Office, CMS/Medicare, HIPAA, and other entities

You can join one of the four sessions of this six-class series, held from 6:30-8:45 p.m. on Zoom.

• Session 1: Wednesdays, Sept. 2-16 and Oct. 7-21

• Session 2: Thursdays, Jan. 7-28 and Feb. 18-25

• Session 3: Wednesdays, March 3-17 and April 7-21

• Session 4: Wednesdays, May 5-19 and June 2-16

Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/gtc-uv5e

For $45, you can join the ranks of the nearly 700 participants from over 300 services who have completed this popular virtual course.

Your instructor Dana Sechler is a former Wisconsin State EMS Office Paramedic Program/ALS Coordinator, a Fire Chief and Service Director. Sechler is currently the founding partner and President at Strategic Management & Consulting, LLC.

Questions? Contact Kevin Jacobson at [email protected].

06/25/2026

Are you an emergency responder looking for more tools to navigate conflict at work and at home? If so, please join the Conflict Resolution Center this summer for our sponsored 1-day training: Conflict Resolution for Emergency Responders.

Learn more and register at https://mediationwcrc.square.site/

06/18/2026

Check out the incredible work being done in Vilas County by the Northwoods EMS District!

05/13/2026

EMS Week 2026 Proclamation

05/12/2026

Happy National Hospital Week!

🏥 It’s National Hospital Week, and we’re celebrating Wisconsin hospitals and health systems and the care, compassion and community support they provide every day. Healing Happens Here — from lifesaving care at the bedside to the many ways hospitals strengthen the communities they serve. Follow along this week as we highlight the many ways hospitals support our communities, because when Hospitals Save Lives, Communities Thrive.
Learn more ➡️ www.wha.org/Hospital-Week

05/06/2026

We're hiring! 🔎Apply by May 17!

📢 Now Hiring: Communications Manager

Wisconsin AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) and the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health are seeking a talented Communications Manager to lead statewide messaging that amplifies health equity and rural health work. This shared role offers the opportunity to shape communication strategies, tell compelling stories, and collaborate with partners across Wisconsin. Ideal candidates are creative, adaptable communicators who thrive in mission‑driven environments and enjoy managing projects, building relationships, and elevating public health impact. Learn more and apply by May 17: https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/communications-manager-madison-wisconsin-united-states