Members Only

RELEASE DATE: MAY 1, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Davis, Executive Director 270-925-5611; RDavis@NCHN.org

LOCAL LEADER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Sauk City, WI --- Outstanding Health Network of 2009
In late April, 2009, the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association (NCHN) announced their first national award winners during their annual conference in Charleston, SC. The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative was selected nationally as the NCHN Outstanding Health Network of 2009. Larry Clifford, Director of Product & Member Development for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, accepted the award on behalf of RWHC and their Executive Director Tim Size.

By definition, health networks are formed when three or more health care providers formally come together to better meet the needs of patients in their service area. These providers often include hospitals, community health centers, critical access hospitals, physician practices, mental health providers, rural health clinics and other for-profit and not-for-profit health care organizations. These networks work to increase access to quality health care for local patients and streamline the cost of that care, as well.

The Outstanding Health Network of the Year Award recognizes a network that has improved access to health services in its service area and has improved the coordination of resources for members using particularly innovative and comprehensive approaches. Award winners were nominated and chosen by their national peers.

“Other NCHN members have said it best,” adds Rebecca Davis, Executive Director of NCHN, “RWHC is obviously a group that understands community needs, hospital needs and healthcare needs. It is also clear that the level of collegiality is very high among hospital CEOs and RWHC staff. This only happens when CEOs are convinced, time after time and day after day, that there is value in the partnership.”

Tim Size, Executive Director of RWHC is nationally recognized for his dedication and leadership in network development and rural health issues. The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative was one of the earliest and most successful models for technological networking among rural, healthcare providers. Their mission is to help rural health providers offer high quality, cost effective care while simultaneously serving as a strong advocate on their behalf.

Owned and operated by 35 smaller, acute care hospitals, the Cooperative's emphasis on developing an integrated network among freestanding entities distinguishes it from alternative approaches. They offer a wide range of services including clinical staffing, finance/coding consulting, quality management, benchmarking, information technology, workforce development, and peer networking/education. It is their focus on achieving balance between advocacy and shared services that has allowed RWHC to sustain their network for 30 years.

NCHN is a national level professional membership organization of health network leaders across the nation. Its mission is to support and strengthen health alliances through collaboration, networking, leadership development and education. The Association has members in 33 states. Its major focus in 2009 will be a continued emphasis on supporting Network Leaders across the nation through the expansion of the Executive Coaching Program, ongoing regional conferences and workshops, and the development of a specialized training curriculum around Health Network Governance. This Governance learning opportunity will include strategies for success with Board selection, training, and coordination.