OSHKOSH, Wis. — Wisconsin residents in rural areas have to drive farther to receive medical care, with some traveling 45 minutes longer, according to the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) wants to change that through education about telehealth.

What You Need To Know

  • There’s one physician for every 1,500 people living in rural communities, according to the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, so telehealth can play an important role in rural health care

  • UWO telehealth program was initiated with 32 accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) students who completed modules and received a telehealth “badge"

  • UWO associtate clinical professor Debbie Walrath said rural community members might prioritize the health of their animals over themselves because it's their living

  • In 2023, UWO received a $175,000 UW Innovation Grants to support its telehealth programs

Matthew Baker is part of the UWO’s School of Nursing. He spends part of his day traveling to Wisconsin’s rural counties, assisting people with telehealth.

“Maybe it’s gathering data, so gathering their vitals. Maybe one day, they go in for a blood draw, and then they talk with the provider and or nurse as well, but it’s mostly just staying in communication with the medical team,” Baker said.

UWO clinical professor Debbie Walrath said those in rural communities have better access to phones or laptops than access to primary care physicians.

There’s one physician for every 1,500 people living in rural communities, according to the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. 

“Rural community members have their lived environments that are so far from either health care facilities or doctors, so they don’t necessarily prioritize their health, or they might prioritize the health of their animals because it’s their living,” Walrath said.

That’s why UWO nursing students are learning telehealth skills by partnering with the Thedacare. The end goal is to improve health outcomes for the Badger State’s rural communities.

“Majority of Wisconsin residents are rural community members, and they don’t have the positive health outcomes that we want, higher rates of chronic disease, and they don’t have access to health care, but we are afforded to be able to allow our students to educate the rural community members on telehealth services,” Walrath said.

UWO’s Dean of the College of Nursing Dr. Seon Yoon Chung said this program is having a great impact.

“We already have more than 100 students reaching out to more than 100 households and really impacting our rural community members already, and I’m really excited that our students were able to make a positive impact on those rural communities even before they graduate,” Chung said.

Baker is graduating soon. He said that while he’s excited for the rush of hospital emergency rooms, he’s thankful to connect Wisconsin rural communities with proper medical care through telehealth.

“It’s the best feeling. Sometimes it might even just be talking with them for a little bit, or it’s making sure that they’re all right… there’s no other feeling that can describe it,” Baker said.

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