Article Summary –
The Orion Initiative by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health launched to improve healthcare access in rural Wisconsin by providing advanced training for paramedics, focusing on emergency medical services, pediatric care, and recruiting primary care physicians. Rural healthcare providers face challenges such as limited access to training due to distance and financial constraints, as highlighted by Evan VandenLangenberg of Berlin EMS, who emphasized the importance of in-person training and collaboration with medical professionals. The program is in its investigative stage and aims to address specific needs like pediatrics and obstetrics, particularly in areas with significant Amish populations, while also responding to broader challenges in rural healthcare, such as the closure of hospital obstetric units.
A new program from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is set to enhance paramedic training in rural areas.
The Orion Initiative, started on June 4, tackles rural health disparities in Wisconsin by linking rural providers with academic medical experts. It focuses on emergency medical services, pediatric care, specialty training, and primary care recruitment.
“Rural populations often face health challenges and access issues,” Dr. Amy Kind, CEO of the Orion Initiative, told Spectrum News. “Through workforce development and clinician support, Orion is creating a blueprint for addressing rural health challenges in Wisconsin.”
The Wisconsin Medical Journal noted that 1.5 million residents live rurally, but only 11% of doctors work there.
Evan VandenLangenberg, chief of Berlin EMS in Green Lake County, is involved in the Orion training.
VandenLangenberg told the Wisconsin Independent that their EMS training is mostly online due to travel time and expenses related to city-held conferences. Berlin can’t afford to send staff or spare full-time providers.
“Getting trainers is tough—Madison’s two hours away, Green Bay is an hour and a half, and money is a constant issue,” VandenLangenberg said.
By 2021, Berlin EMS had moved from volunteer-only to full-time staff, signaling a need for advanced training.
Orion is currently assessing needs, interviewing EMS providers about their daily calls.
Green Lake County, home to 2,200 Amish residents, features an Amish birthing center, prompting Orion to focus on pediatrics and obstetrics.
“We deliver many babies here,” said VandenLangenberg, noting that one EMS provider has delivered eight babies in three years, while training suggests one to two in a career.
VandenLangenberg’s team is eager to collaborate with physicians, practice on lifelike mannequins, and use them in the field.
“Getting four or five doctors at a time is huge for us. We’ve never had such focus, to ask questions and learn, so I’m excited to see the progress,” he said.
While Green Lake’s three Level IV hospitals remain open, other rural areas have faced closures.
The Wisconsin Independent reported that Marshfield Medical Clinic in Wood County, with 60 clinics and 11 hospitals, laid off 3% of staff and closed some services in 2024.
In 2023, six hospital obstetric units closed in Wisconsin. Chartis noted that 25% of U.S. rural obstetric units closed from 2011 to 2021.
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