Innovating Rural Healthcare

Improving access, quality, and equity in rural communities through collaboration, technology, and scalable solutions.

A Vision for Healthier Communities

The Chippewa Valley stands at the forefront of a national challenge: redesigning rural healthcare. With rising emergency cases, hours-long commutes for maternal care, and fewer healthcare providers serving rural populations, the region faces critical gaps in access. By leveraging its unique environment and partnerships with globally recognized providers, the Chippewa Valley is positioned to become the epicenter for testing and scaling innovative healthcare solutions tailored to rural communities.

Our Partners in Progress

Health Equity Innovation Partners (HEI)

HEI connects healthcare systems with innovators to address inequities and create scalable solutions for rural communities. They bring fresh insights and innovative approaches to improving rural healthcare access.

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic provides medical expertise and resources, contributing to both clinical services and research. Their involvement ensures access to cutting-edge healthcare practices and technology, while their partnership with UWEC strengthens education and healthcare delivery in the region.

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

UWEC serves as the academic cornerstone of the alliance, fostering research and educational programs that directly address rural healthcare challenges. Their expanded nursing program and long-term collaboration with Mayo Clinic position them as leaders in workforce development and innovation.

Solutions for Rural Health Challenges

  • Microsites

    Pioneering hybrid care networks with innovative, cost-efficient primary care solutions. These sites gather anonymized data to enhance clinical care and streamline administration for health partners.

    Explore

  • Workforce Development

    Each testbed fosters research and economic growth, creating opportunities to train and retain skilled professionals while advancing innovative rural healthcare solutions.

    Discover

  • Telehealth Programs

    Leveraging technology to improve access to specialists, enhance patient outcomes, and provide scalable solutions for underserved communities.

    Connect

Collaborating for Change

  • Accessing the best innovation from around the globe is vital to the growth of Wisconsin’s healthcare industry and access to care for patients. Working together, through the RHIA, we can attract novel solutions and start-ups to Wisconsin and accelerate the connection of need in the rural communities of Wisconsin to new groundbreaking technologies.

    Ken Bahk PhD
    Co-Founder
    Health Equity Innovation Partners

  • RHIA provides an innovative framework for entrepreneurs to quickly test new ideas to improve patient care and tackle healthcare disparities in rural communities. RHIA is a manifestation of the “Wisconsin Idea” – a commitment that state universities should apply research to solving societal problems and improving the health and quality of life for all citizens of the state.

    Mike Carney
    Interim Provost
    UW-Eau Claire

  • Delivering accessible, affordable healthcare is an urgent challenge. A shrinking healthcare workforce, along with rising rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, continues to widen the gaps in health outcomes, especially in more rural areas. Solutions won’t emerge from major metropolitan areas alone—they require bold partnerships like the Rural Health Innovation Alliance. By uniting entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, investors, and communities, this Alliance is pioneering innovative solutions to make accessing quality healthcare options easier and affordable for all.

    Sara Carstens
    Operations Manager
    Mayo Clinic NWWI

  • The members of the Rural Health Innovation Alliance (RHIA) are dedicated to transforming healthcare and delivering world class, compassionate care to every patient, no matter where they live. Partnering across healthcare providers, the community and

    Kate Merton PhD
    Executive Director
    Health Equity Innovation Partners

  • Collaborations for the good of all has been a long-held ethos of UW-Eau Claire. The Rural Health Innovation Alliance is an important partnership among a wide range of organizations all focused on a singular mission to develop innovation solutions that will improve access and outcomes in healthcare. If we have learned anything over the past several years it is that the current models for how people access medical care are not sustainable. If we want communities of all sizes to thrive, solving healthcare challenges must be a priority.

    Kimera Way
    President Emerita
    UW-Eau Claire Foundation

Stronger Communities, Stronger Care

News & Events
Breaking Barriers in Behavioral Health: RHIA’s Focus on Rural Mental Wellness
Breaking Barriers in Behavioral Health: RHIA’s Focus on Rural Mental Wellness

Behavioral health care is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of rural healthcare. Many rural communities face barriers like a shortage of mental health professionals, stigma surrounding mental health issues, and limited access to care. These challenges lead to significant unmet needs, particularly in behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and older adults.

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Revolutionizing Rural Healthcare in Wisconsin: Join the Movement
Revolutionizing Rural Healthcare in Wisconsin: Join the Movement

The Rural Health Innovation Alliance (RHIA) is redefining what’s possible in rural healthcare. Our mission is to create sustainable access to quality care by positioning the Chippewa Valley and Wisconsin as the premier hub for testing and implementing new rural health solutions. Through collaboration with community members, healthcare providers, and corporate partners, we’re building a future where technology and innovation drive better outcomes for everyone.

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The Sandbox Ecosystem: Building a Foundation for Rural Healthcare Innovation
The Sandbox Ecosystem: Building a Foundation for Rural Healthcare Innovation

The Chippewa Valley is poised to become a leader in rural healthcare innovation through the creation of a dynamic "sandbox ecosystem." This ecosystem will operate on multiple levels, generating various forms of testbeds to address critical healthcare needs and develop solutions that can be scaled across rural communities.

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Reimagining Rural Healthcare: Building the Chippewa Valley as a Global Leader
Reimagining Rural Healthcare: Building the Chippewa Valley as a Global Leader

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent closures of regional healthcare facilities have underscored the vulnerabilities of our rural health systems. Now is the time to seize this moment and position the Chippewa Valley as a global leader in reimagining rural healthcare delivery.

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Transforming Rural Health: Why the Chippewa Valley Must Lead the Way
Transforming Rural Health: Why the Chippewa Valley Must Lead the Way

Until recently, the Chippewa Valley celebrated the breadth and depth of its healthcare resources as a vital community asset. However, the departure of anchor healthcare institutions has brought the fragility of the region's health infrastructure into sharp focus. Local facilities report a 100% increase in emergency department cases, and pregnant mothers now face hours-long commutes to deliver. These challenges are not unique to the Chippewa Valley but are symptomatic of a broader need to redesign rural health systems.

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Press Release - University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Announces New Rural Health Collaboration
Press Release - University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Announces New Rural Health Collaboration

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, along with Chicago-based Health Equity Innovation Partners, is initiating a collaboration to assemble health care providers, entrepreneurs and other partners to find solutions to improve health care delivery in rural areas. The three-pronged goal is to improve rural health care access and outcomes while reducing costs.

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