At Door County Medical Center, we are committed to protecting essential services that our communities need. While several hospitals across the state have been forced to close their nursing homes and labor and delivery programs due to declining volumes, workforce shortages, and financial losses we have continued to prioritize this and other essential services because they are important to our community.

Not only are we keeping these services available in Door and Kewaunee counties, but our caregivers are providing a wonderful patient experience, evidenced by our survey results being above the 85th percentile nationally.

We cannot do this without the support of elected officials who understand the importance of strong rural healthcare. With 70% of our reimbursement coming from government payers like Medicare and Medicaid, prioritizing healthcare investments in both Madison and Washington are critical for us to maintain access to care for everyone. When a hospital closes a service due to underfunding from the government, it doesn’t just impact those who need government assistance – it impacts everyone who needs care.

I’m proud of the work being done every day by our wonderful team of caregivers here at Door County Medical Center, and it is becoming more challenging over time. While we are busier than ever in our ER and in our clinics, the reimbursement rates we are receiving for services are actually decreasing on a per-unit basis largely due to government reimbursement, while our costs continue to increase.

To our community we say, thank you for trusting us with your care. As you cast your vote on November 5th, please join me in asking our elected officials in Madison and Washington to prioritize adequate reimbursement to rural hospitals and physicians so we can continue serving all of you.