Technology, Education, Access, Communities and Healthcare: TEACH toward a Healthy Rural Wisconsin 

 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 

Welcome to the Technology, Education, Access, Communities, and Healthcare: TEACH toward a Healthy Rural Wisconsin Telehealth training modules. 

Nearly one third of Wisconsin citizens reside in rural areas (Wisconsin Policy Forum, 2023). Rural Wisconsinites are disproportionately at risk for adverse health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts, particularly for chronic diseases, of which they experience higher death rates per 100,000 residents from chronic respiratory illness, heart disease, and stroke and higher rates of diabetes (Rural Health Information HUB, 2023). 

The purpose of this innovation project is to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare in rural Wisconsin by providing residents with a well-prepared nursing workforce to meet their telehealth needs. Through an academic-practice partnership between the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing and ThedaCare, the future nursing workforce will be educated on telehealth skills to improve rural chronic illness outcomes. A series of five training modules will be completed by UW Oshkosh Nursing Students with the final module a simulated virtual experience to use acquired skills to provide direct care to underserved, chronically ill patients. Home visits will be conducted by UW CON faculty, nursing students and TC Home Health Nurses. Students will work directly with clinical staff in rural homes to support telehealth delivery and connect individuals with healthcare resources in their communities. 

Principal Investigators include Seon Yoon Chung, Dean of CON; Kathleen Abrahamson, Associate Dean, Wendy Bauer, Director of Center of Nursing Research and Evaluation. ThedaCare partners include Katie Ball, VP Nursing Excellence and Education; Tracy Budz, Director of Post Acute Services; Lisa Nebel VP of Post Acute Services; Leanne Fredrich Chief Nursing Informatics Officer.

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