SSM Health at Work partners on new Waupun employee clinic
March 8, 2024
SSM Health Waupun
WAUPUN — After more than 10 months of planning and implementation, SSM Health at Work is partnering with the City of Waupun and Waupun Area School District to open the Waupun Employee Wellness Clinic, which opened on February 26 at 608 W. Brown Street, Waupun.
The clinic features two exam rooms, and a lab draw area with services being provided by Abigail Jenkins, APNP, a family medicine nurse practitioner, with support by an occupational health registered nurse.
According to Rohn W. Bishop, City of Waupun mayor, the new clinic is the culmination of courageous, thoughtful decisions starting in 2019 with the decision “to control the destiny of our employee benefit package when it decided to move away from the state health insurance plan. There were many changes happening that predicted rising costs were on the horizon, all of which have proven true and would have placed this city in an unsustainable budget situation.
“Our move to the Dean Health Insurance plan in 2020 was a bold, and courageous move,” Bishop adds. “I commend staff for their work to understand trends and to make recommendations that keep our organization moving forward to ensure that we can continue to offer a cost-effective and competitive health and wellness benefits for our employees.”
The new clinic stands as a beacon of hope and healing, designed to enhance access to care and alleviate the financial strain on eligible employees, according to Steven Hill, Waupun Area School District administrator. “It is a testament to our unwavering commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of those who serve our organizations with dedication and passion.
“I am particularly moved by a recent testament of the impact of our clinic,” Hill continues. “Just today, a staff member shared a heartening story of how their child, feeling unwell, was promptly attended to with a same-day appointment through our clinic’s services. Witnessing the relief and gratitude in our employee’s voice as they shared this story is a testament to the transformative power of accessible health care.”
Eligible City of Waupun and Waupun Area School District employees and their families will benefit from the health and wellness services available, including preventive services, health care services, disease management, and occupational health.
The new clinic will help the City of Waupun and Waupun Area School District stabilize health care costs, enhance access to care and reduce reliance on emergency room visits, and reduce absenteeism and work-related injuries and prevent disability claims.
As part of this transition, occupational health services at SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital also relocated to the convenient, first floor location.
“The collaboration, teamwork and partnership by so many was inspiring,” says Jim Meacham, SSM Health at Work – Wisconsin Region VP – Affiliate and Direct to Employer Partnerships. “It has culminated in this beautiful space. We loved working with such engaging partners on this clinic in the City of Waupun and the Waupun Area School District.”
Area businesses that are interested in utilizing the clinic for their employees can contact Nick Thanos, SSM Health at Work Greater Fond du Lac director, at 920-926-8357.
