Medical center breaking new ground

La Crosse Tribune, Mar 04, 1998

A step on a shovel today will mark a crossroads for the five member organizations of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium Inc.

The 3 p.m. ground-breaking ceremony at 13th and Badger streets is the culmination of four years of work for the group, made up of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo College, Western Wisconsin Technical College, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare.

But it also will mark the beginning of a new era -- new ground both literally and figuratively. The consortium is the first of its kind in the nation -- the first time traditionally competitive organizations have come together to collaborate and meet a community need.

"We are meeting a need of the future," said consortium president and UW-L Chancellor Judith Kuipers. "None of us could've accomplished individually what we have done here together."

The consortium formed in 1993 in response to a 1991 state assessment that found major health care shortages in the tri-state area. One of the many goals the consortium set for itself was the construction of a health science center, a place where all five member organizations could educate and train future health care providers.

The new health science center, scheduled to open in January 2000, is to be built at a cost of $26.8 million. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse contributed $13.4 million, or 50 percent, through a Wisconsin Initiative for State Technology and Applied Research grant. Western Wisconsin Technical College has raised 20 percent, with $5.4 million through a special referendum and donation of land for the building site.

The remaining $8 million, or 30 percent of the project cost, is to be raised locally, regionally and nationally. That campaign has raised $2 million, or one quarter of its goal.

"That is generally local support from community benefactors," said Linda Hamilton, a management consultant for fund raising for the consortium. "We're not purely health care and we're not purely education. That makes for interesting work looking for grants. We're really in the research base."

Hamilton said the consortium is targeting groups in the community that will benefit by the creation of the center, like dentists and physicians. Some of the programs that will be offered include medical laboratory technician, medical technology, physician assistant training, nursing practitioner, dental hygiene, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Hamilton recently visited Washington, D.C., to enlist the support of area legislators in finding sources for federal grants. Both Rep. Ron Kind and Sen. Herb Kohl's offices are lending research assistance. She said the consortium also will approach national foundations such as Kellogg, R.W. Johnson and Hartford.

"We're really moving forward," said Martin Venneman, executive director of the consortium.

Demolition of a residence hall, on the property at 1300 Badger St., is set for May 25. Construction is scheduled to begin in June, pending purchase of one other property in the area. The building will have six floors, with shared office space, classroom space and resources among the member organizations. It also will have a gym, student lounge area, literacy development center and student health center.

As with most growing organizations, this collaboration had its own set of growing pains.

"One reason it has taken since 1993 is that when you're working with five highly individualized and sometimes competitive organizations, you have to be sensitive and knowledgeable of each institution's needs, like the differences in missions and board perspectives," Kuipers said. "It is a true tribute to all the CEOs that we have been able to focus on the common goal."

The La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium has been involved in several other health-related projects since 1993. The group recently completed and published a countywide health needs assessment, and is planning to assist other counties in the tri-state area do the same.

It also has developed and expanded a literacy development center, now housed at WWTC. Also, it sponsors an early identification program for students with reading difficulties in the Holmen and La Crosse school districts.