Western Wisconsin Health is excited to announce that the new health and wellness facility is now open. The inpatient, surgical services, lab, imaging and the birth center opened at 6:00 am on July 21, 2016. All other departments which include the clinic and rehabilitation services opened on July 25, 2016.
The new public café “The Eatery” also opened on July 25. They have an impressive menu of healthy, sustainable food options from local food sources. Learn more about the menu at wwhealth.org. The Village Pharmacy also opened up at the “Health Shop” in the atrium. The Health Shop is a retail pharmacy and gift shop located in the main atrium.
We had three inpatients at the old facility and they were all transferred early on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Patty Fern was the first inpatient to arrive at the new facility and was also the very first surgery patient. The other two patients were Lory Hawkins and Harold Wilkins. The first baby was born to Emily and Mike Duch of Baldwin, WI. Maggie Jean was born on Thursday, July 21 at 8:12 pm and was delivered by Rebecca Gray, Certified Nurse Midwife. What is unique about this birth is that Emily Duch is a psychiatric nurse practitioner that practices at Western Wisconsin Health. Following Maggie Jean, baby Evelyn was born to Emily and Josh Newton on July 22 at 6:41 am. The first baby at Western Wisconsin Health received a nice jogging stroller and was awarded to the Duch family. The Duch family kindly gifted the stroller to the Newton family to take home. Both ladies were very excited to have the first babies at Western Wisconsin Health. Our first clinic patients were Denise Faber and Anabelle Gilbertson.
They held a Community Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. It is estimated that over 3,200 people attend this exciting event. Visitors were able to tour all areas of the new facility, listen to live music that was provided by The Teddy Bear Band, enjoy healthy snacks, children activities including a bounce house, and a meet and greet with providers and the new mascot Healthy Hank. Guests also looked at displays of Western Wisconsin Health services and partners in the main atrium while listening to local harpist Devon Carpenter.
A private grand opening celebration and dedication ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 12. The board of directors started the evening off with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Following was program and dedication. Alison Page, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health emceed the program. Pastor Keith Anderson of the Zion Lutheran Church provided a building dedication. Pat Hayes, Western Wisconsin Health Board President did the introduction and gave a nice message from the board of directors. Other speakers included Willie Zevenbergen, Village of Baldwin President, Justin Nygaard, Baldwin-Woodville Chamber of Commerce President, Brian Lovdahl, Western Wisconsin Health, CFO, Stan Gruszynski, Wisconsin Rural Development State Director, Vice- President Kahler Slater, Shelly Peterson, Executive Vice President of The Boldt Company, and Clint Semrau, General Surgeon at Western Wisconsin Health. Alison Page ended the program with a champagne toast.
The Fitness Center and Therapeutic Pool will open in December, 2016. The current fitness center and pool will remain at the current location at 730 10th Avenue, Baldwin until December, 2016. To date, the community has raised 1.5 million of the 2 million dollar goal for the new fitness center. If you would like to make a gift or learn more about the campaign, please contact Courtney Hetzel, Foundation Manager at 715-684-1596.