Quarles & Brady and Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative Announce Winners of Second Annual Community Engagement Award
MADISON, Wis. — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced the winners of the second annual Quarles & Brady/Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) Community Engagement Award. The winner of the $2,500 grant is Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, Wis. The second place award of $500 was given to Columbus Community Hospital, Inc. in Columbus, Wis. The awards are provided by Quarles & Brady.
RWHC is a cooperative of 40 rural acute, general medical-surgical hospitals throughout Wisconsin. The award recognizes two RWHC Member Hospitals demonstrating excellence in strengthening community health and wellness partnerships.
"Rural hospitals understand that the health of their communities depends on strong local partnerships; this year's winners provide two more great examples," said Tim Size, executive director of RWHC.
Upland Hills Health was recognized for its "Just Drive: Focus on the Road" program, created by the Upland Hills Health Trauma and Prevention Team Nurses in an effort to reduce the occurrence of distracted driving accidents among teenagers. Upland Hills Health partnered with several Iowa County area high schools, presenting information in an assembly format and sharing insights with the students. The most impactful part of the program is a testimonial from a teenager who suffered trauma in an accident because of distracted driving.
Since the program began in 2012, it has received substantial media attention. It also recently expanded to include a partnership with Southwest Technical College. Upland Health will use this grant to purchase a distracted driving simulator for high school and Southwest Technical College driver education programs.
Columbus Community Hospital (CCH) and the Your Better Life Coalition have partnered on the "Operation Overhaul 2.0" program to decrease obesity rates in Columbus, Wis., and Fall River, Wis. CCH professional health instructions go onsite to partner locations to increase employees' and their families' health and wellness through decreasing obesity rates. This program is Quarles & Brady and Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative Announce Winners of Second Annual Community Engagement Award, specifically tailored to the manufacturing industry to reduce obesity and impact chronic health conditions.
"Quarles & Brady is honored to partner with RWHC to honor these amazing organizations that work to improve the lives of the communities they serve," said Sarah E. Coyne, a partner in the firm's Madison office and chair of the Health Law Practice Group. "We look forward to seeing what next year's nominations bring."
The organizations will receive their awards at the RWHC board of directors meeting in October.
About Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC)
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC), headquartered in Sauk City, Wis., has been providing affordable and effective services to healthcare organizations since 1979. RWHC is owned and operated by 40 rural acute, general medical-surgical hospitals. The Cooperative's emphasis on developing a collaborative network among both freestanding and system-affiliated rural hospitals distinguishes itself from alternative approaches. RWHC offers a variety of programs and services to its members, as well as other clients across the nation.