OSHKOSH, Wis. — For those living in rural Wisconsin, it can be a 30-minute drive or longer for health care. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is looking to change that through a $175,000 medical grant.

What You Need To Know

  • UW Oshkosh awarded an Innovation Grant totaling up to $175,000 split over two years

  • The objective of the UW Oshkosh proposal is to develop and integrate curriculum to educate current and future nurses on the use of telehealth to improve rural chronic illness outcomes

  • A shareable telehealth education infrastructure will link UWO faculty and student resources with the resources of ThedaCare

Dr. Seon Yoon Chung has worked in the medical field for two decades as a certified nursing educator and health care simulator. She’s also a registered nurse in Illinois, Maryland and Wisconsin. Chung said the flexibility of providing medical care for people outside a hospital setting is why her passion is nursing.

“They are able to care for those who are in need, but also that it would be an independent profession that you could really be anywhere in the world,” Chung said.

As the Dean of Nursing at UW Oshkosh, Chung said she’s excited about the telehealth grant. The $175,000 will allow the university to expand telemedicine services to Wisconsin’s rural residents.

Chung said this telehealth program is being launched in New London, Waupaca, Shawano, Wildrose and Berlin.

“The purpose of this grant is for us to develop a curriculum that is focused on telehealth so that we can provide this education to our nursing workforce,” Chung said.

Associate Professor Debbie Walrath will supervise this program. She said nurses will learn health care doesn’t just happen in a hospital.

“We’re going to be able to take them out into the clinical area arena, and into patient homes and deliver the care there, where I’ll tell you in from my experience, many of the patients have really appreciated it,” Walrath said.

Walrath said she grew up in the countryside of Wisconsin. As a nurse for 32 years, she’s seen first-hand why rural residents have worse health outcomes and poor mortality rates.

“You’re lucky if you get a primary care physician in your area to travel 30 miles. Typically, you have to go further. If you need a specialist to see, it’s many times hours that you need to travel,” Walrath said.

Chung said this grant provides patients access to early intervention that prevents serious illness.

“It is very rewarding and fulfilling to be a part of this. I’m fortunate to be working with a team that is dedicated to this mission,” Chung said.

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