The Journey has started…
Our Mission is to serve as a Community Health and Wellness Advocate. We must bring community stakeholders together to find WIN-WIN solutions that lower health care costs while creating environmental change to battle the root causes of chronic disease.
Our Problem
Healthcare in the Chippewa Valley is in crisis! We’re one of the most expensive healthcare communities in the whole country—and most expensive in Wisconsin. In March of 2024, two local hospitals were permanently closed by a large, regional hospital system creating major healthcare access issues.
We have a national health crisis, too! The U.S. has the highest obesity rate in the world. We are plagued with chronic disease. Our children’s health is declining fast. And America is spending twice as much on healthcare as other nations, but our lifespan is 4–6 years shorter than Europe and Asia.
Government policies have failed…
And it’s bankrupting us. Over 60% of Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies are caused by medical debt. Shockingly, 70% of those affected had insurance.
The Solution
We believe the Chippewa Valley can lead the nation in a Health & Wellness renaissance—starting now. Our community has the tools, talent, and the desire to transform healthcare and help our citizens live longer, more fulfilling lives.
We Have:
Forward-thinking business leaders.
World-class healthcare providers including Mayo Clinic Health System, OakLeaf Independent Physicians, OakLeaf Surgical Hospital, Sanford Health, and more.
The new Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative Community Hospital.
Healthcare innovation at UW–Eau Claire.
A strong faith-based network.
A growing interest in regenerative farming.
We’re not waiting for top-down change. We’re building a grassroots movement—right here, together.
Empower
Let’s start with a vision:
Become the healthiest community in America!
We’ll chart a path forward, using the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine as a model to promote whole-person care.
We’ll educate through influential social organizations, and build a digital home base packed with tools, stories, and local resources.
We’ll launch an annual community Health and Wellness Convention at the Sonnentag Center — to learn, grow, and unite.
Pioneer
We’ll break new ground by helping people make real, lasting lifestyle changes.
We’ll build a community biomarker database to measure progress and accountability.
We’ll help mobilize community resources to build the innovative new Independent Community Hospital.
We’ll work with local, state, and national officials to design healthy environments that support real change.
And we’ll build a new healthcare delivery model—from the ground up—with willing participants at the table.
Inspire
This is more than a plan—it’s a movement.
We’ll rally the community to collaborate, innovate, and take ownership of health outcomes.
With smart marketing and social media, we’ll keep health and wellness top of mind all year long.
We’ll track our progress, share it openly, and celebrate the wins—big and small.
And we’ll back it all with peer-reviewed studies, proving what’s possible when a community comes together.
Our Operating Principles
Produce significantly positive healthcare outcomes for our community.
Seek Talented and Committed Community Leaders.
Open system participation to all who share our vision and core values.
Attract bi-partisan participation.
Create Win-Win healthcare and lifestyle innovation to be implemented through community stakeholder collaboration.
A bias for action. Ready – Fire – Aim.
Total System Transparency while protecting sensitive personal health information based on legal requirements.
Science based decision making.
Influence community members through social networks.
Develop the necessary community resources.
Maintain a very low-cost organizational structure supported by passionately committed community volunteers to ensure maximum community benefit.
Curious? Learn more.
We must transform our Health and Wellness delivery system… one community at a time. The Chippewa Valley and Northwestern Wisconsin intend to lead the way!