Milwaukee, Wis. (Dec. 21, 2015) – Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network will make a $300,000 investment to improve access to care for medically under served people living in Washington County. The community gift is part of a $15 million investment targeting areas of need in southeastern Wisconsin, which the health network previously announced in August.
The $300,000 investment in Washington County will support West Bend-based Albrecht Free Clinic’s plans to expand into a larger facility at 908 West Washington Street. The additional space will enable the clinic to offer dental services for the first time.
“This gift reflects the value we place on the relationship between Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital and our community,” said Allen Ericson, president of St. Joseph’s Hospital. “By supporting the work of a trusted local organization, we can have a long-term impact on the health and well-being of the people who live here.”
When the Froedtert & MCW health network announced plans for a $15 million community investment last summer, $12 million was designated to establish a new health care clinic on Milwaukee’s near south side. The remaining $3 million of the total was earmarked for distribution to high-need areas in Washington and Waukesha counties. The $300,000 gift to Albrecht Free Clinic is part of that gift.
“As an academic medical center and regional health network, our mission is to advance the health of the communities we serve,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health. “With these investments, we are directing resources where access to health care services is most needed as identified by community health assessments and other reliable data.”
“Details on the remaining distributions will be finalized shortly,” said Jacobson. “As with all of our community investments, we are focusing on sustainable, long-term solutions that will have a lasting impact.”
About Albrecht Free Clinic
Albrecht Free Clinic provides free medical care to uninsured and underinsured residents of Washington County, Wisconsin. In 2014, the clinic served more than 800 patients and managed 2,030 patient visits. Approximately 70 percent of patients have chronic illnesses while the remainder visit the clinic for acute care issues. The clinic’s health care providers, nurses, and volunteers donate their time and expertise, offering Washington County residents dependable, affordable access to health care services.
About Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin. It comprises eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee; and Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls, and St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend. The health network includes more than 2,000 physicians across 25 primary and specialty clinical locations, representing the collaboration of Wisconsin’s largest multispecialty physician practice with a community-based physician group. The network’s three hospitals have 784 staffed beds, nearly 40,000 annual admissions and more than 930,000 annual outpatient visits. Froedtert & MCW network physicians have more than 750,000 annual patient visits at its health centers and clinics. For more information, visit froedtert.com.
Photo caption: (L-R) Andy Dresang, director of community engagement for Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network; and Allen Ericson, president of St. Joseph’s Hospital, present the $300,000 check to Jim Strachota, executive director of Albrecht Free Clinic; and Robin Reis, vice president of the Albrecht Free Clinic Board of Directors, at the clinic’s new location.