Small Street Journal: September 11, 2015

The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation recently recognized Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire as the top health plan in their Second Quarter First Breath Enrollment Challenge. The Cooperative has already achieved 97 precent of its 2015 enrollment goal of 35 women and has enrolled 34 women into First Breath. First Breath is a program implemented by the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation that is aimed at helping pregnant women quit smoking. By providing this service to its members over the last year, the Cooperative has helped 49 pregnant women quit smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Research has shown that women’s smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications, premature delivery, low-birth-weight infants, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The law firm of Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C. of Eau Claire, Wisconsin announced the return of Attorney John Robert Behling to its practice. Behling’s return comes after a one year leave of absence from the firm to work as general counsel and executive vice president of regulatory affairs for Smart Sand, Inc. Behling practices in the areas of frac sand, mining and minerals, government relations and administrative and environmental law. At the firm, he has served as the co-chair of these sections as well as the firm's vice president and member of the Management Committee. In 2012, Behling was appointed by Governor Scott Walker and unanimously confirmed by the Wisconsin Senate to a position on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. He was also unanimously elected vice president of the Board of Regents in June, 2015.

For the 21st consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report magazine has named UW-Eau Claire among the best public regional universities in the Midwest. The 2016 edition of "America's Best Colleges" ranks UW-Eau Claire No. 6 among the top regional public universities in the Midwest, and 33rd among all private and public institutions in the 12-state region. Every year since 1995, U.S. News has ranked UW-Eau Claire among the top public institutions in the Midwest and in the top third of public and private Midwestern regional universities.

Mayo Clinic Health System registered nurse Connie Blazek earned the North Central Region Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Excellence Award for 2015. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate clinical expertise in wound, ostomy and continence care; participate in community and professional organizations; possess personal and professional qualities respected by colleagues and patients; and who contribute to the advancement of wound, ostomy and continence nursing through educating or mentoring students or new nurses. Blazek will be recognized at the WOCN North Central Region 2015 Conference in October.

Physician assistant Jennifer Dassow recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System. She will see patients in Barron, Bloomer, Eau Claire, Menomonie and Osseo. Dassow earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from UW-Madison and her bachelor’s degree in biology at UW-Stevens Point. She is certified in advanced cardiac life support and basic life support.

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital has been designated as a Baby-Friendly birth facility by Baby-Friendly USA. This designation recognizes hospitals and birth centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies by offering the information, confidence, and skills needed for new mothers to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. Sacred Heart Hospital is the first hospital in the Chippewa Valley region to achieve this distinction. Currently there are 287 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the U.S., and only eight in Wisconsin. The designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey has been completed.