SPOONER, WI — On Friday, January 10, 2025, Spooner Health hosted three state legislators to discuss issues facing rural healthcare in Wisconsin. The state representatives in attendance included Representative Dave Armstrong, Representative Chanz Green, and Representative Duke Tucker. Kyle O’Brien, Senior Vice President Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Hospital Association, also joined Spooner Health’s senior leadership team for the meeting.
The discussion focused on several key challenges facing rural healthcare, including workforce shortages, the impact of “middlemen” on healthcare costs, strategies to strengthen rural hospitals in light of several closures across the state due to low profit margins, and the importance of keeping the patient as the focus when navigating through insurance requirements and authorizations.
“At Spooner Health, we exist to provide excellent medical care and services to our community and surrounding area,” said Mike Schafer, CEO of Spooner Health. “As profit margins continue to shrink for most hospitals in the state of Wisconsin, leading to hospital closures, it is critical that we remain focused on strengthening our hospitals to provide high-quality care for our communities. Our commitment is, and always will be, to serve our community members in the Spooner area. Meetings with our legislators are an important opportunity to share and brainstorm ways to strengthen our healthcare systems and communities.”
Kyle O’Brien highlighted several opportunities for the legislators to further understand the issues at hand. O’Brien’s role with the Wisconsin Hospital Association includes advocating with policymakers on issues impacting Wisconsin’s hospitals and health systems.
“Wisconsin hospitals, like Spooner Health, are tireless advocates for their patients, providers, and staff. The best way for legislators to comprehend the real challenges hospitals face right now is by seeing and hearing about them firsthand,” said O’Brien.
Spooner Health would like to thank Representatives Armstrong, Green, and Tucker, as well as Mr. O’Brien for taking the time to visit Spooner Health and learn more about the challenges facing the hospital and community.
Spooner Health
Spooner Health is a 25-bed critical access hospital offering a wide range of services from emergency and inpatient care to outpatient therapy, surgery, diagnostic imaging, and more. Spooner Health is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized care that puts people first. Spooner Health is proud to be rated in the 99th percentile for organizational pride and workplace satisfaction, creating an environment where both patients and staff thrive.
[Photo: Pictured from left to right: Kyle O’Brien (Senior Vice President, Governmental Relations, Wisconsin Hospital Association), Representative Chanz Green, Rebecca Busch (Chief Financial Officer, Spooner Health), Cindy Rouzer (Human Resources Director, Spooner Health), Clint Miller (Chief Nursing Officer, Spooner Health), Representative Dave Armstrong, Representative Duke Tucker, Mike Schafer (Chief Executive Officer, Spooner Health) Not Pictured: Michelle Martin (Public Relations & Marketing Director, Spooner Health).]
Last Update: Jan 16, 2025 10:38 am CST
