Welcome to the Eau Claire Chamber Blog

This month Lee Alberson, a line worker at Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, has joined 11 other line workers from Wisconsin to build electric lines in an underserved area of Guatemala. They are bringing power for the very first time to a community of 42 homes, 1 medical outpost and 1 school for a total of 44 connections. They are spending over two weeks there to help improve lives in north central Guatemala. That’s the Co-op Difference!
 
With the Co-op headquarters located on Highway 12 between Eau Claire and Fall Creek, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative provides reliable and affordable electricity and related energy services to over 11,000 residential, business and farm members in Eau Claire County plus portions of Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties. As a Focus on Energy and Touchstone Energy Partner, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative prides itself in the high member satisfaction ratings they continue to receive.

For more information on Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, go to ​https://www.ecec.com/

9th Floor Gives Patients New View on Life

What do patients on the top floor of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital see? Along with a remarkable view of Eau Claire and the beautiful Chippewa River valley, a renewed quality of life comes into focus.

The 9th floor of the hospital is home to inpatient physical rehabilitation services. Here, individuals faced with a life-changing injury or illness work with therapists and nurses to rebuild function and regain independence.

After initial treatment for a major injury or illness, such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, heart attack, or other major medical event, hospitalized individuals take a crucial step on the road to recovery when they begin rehabilitation. At HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center, the only one of its kind in western Wisconsin, the team that includes rehabilitation therapists, nurses, a physiatrist and a social worker creates an individually tailored therapy regimen to prepare each patient to return to life at home.

“By offering our patients an intense rehabilitation program of three hours of therapy, five days per week, we increase their chances of making meaningful recoveries and enjoying good quality of life,” says Jamie Wright, RN, CNRN, BSN, nursing manager of rehabilitation services at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals. “They receive physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as other services such as wound care, respiratory therapy and spiritual care as needed.”

THERAPY IN MOTION

At the Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center, rehabilitation therapy takes place in several morning and afternoon sessions in patients’ rooms or the center’s gym, which houses a variety of physical therapy equipment to help individuals rebuild their strength. One of the gym’s newest additions is the Bioness Vector System – a harness hung from the ceiling that supports patients as they practice walking. Watch the video below to learn how patients can recover more quickly and safely with the Bioness equipment.

The gym also features a dedicated occupational therapy space complete with a kitchen for practicing ways to navigate indoor environments.
 
EVERYDAY TRANSFORMATIONS 

Two of the most challenging conditions to overcome – stroke and traumatic brain injury – can leave patients with significant functional deficits. For rehabilitation therapists and nurses, those cases often become the most rewarding.
 
“People come to us at their lowest levels, and we teach them how to live again by helping them relearn the basic skills we take for granted,” Wright says. “Life might not be the same as it was before, but we can help them enjoy it. That’s why we do what we do.”
 
Click here to learn more about the Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, or call 715-717-4361.

​How does the change in season impact your organization?  Depending on the nature of your business, you might depend on seasonal employees to get you through the summer.  Or, you might struggle through the warm months to fill the gaps left by those who use much of their vacation time to enjoy the beautiful weather.  Regardless the type of employee you’re looking for, Manpower has the experience to find you the people you need to fill the gaps.
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STILL IN NEED OF SEASONAL EMPLOYEES?

WISH YOU HAD AN EASY BUTTON FOR STAFFING COVERAGE?
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Let Manpower find candidates with the skill sets and work style your organization requires!  Contact one of our Chippewa Valley offices today! 

Eau Claire Manpower
715-835-2299
www.applymanpower.com
1119 Regis Court, Suite 100
Eau Claire, WI 54701
 
Chippewa Falls Manpower:
715-861-5303
www.applymanpower.com
475 Chippewa Mall Drive
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Five Star Telecom has been a trusted local provider for over 40 years. "We’re Your Connection" is more than a slogan, it’s a promise – our promise that we will connect you to the best services in the industry.
 
We develop strong relationships and provided solutions to our clients and friends with unique services.

Join us on Wednesday, March 20th from 3pm-5pm at the Florian Gardens Conference Center for our Cloud Migration event.
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​Networking Social Hour will follow with food and beverages.
Register for this event at www.5startel.com 
We will see you there!

The best in community banking from a local institution.  Making More Possible.  

At CCFBank, we strive to:

• Make more possible for our customers by developing personal relationships and meeting your financial objectives;
• be your trustworthy partner to provide financial products and solutions;
• provide financial education for the communities we serve.

United Bank is merging with CCFBank.  The combined organization will make your banking experience even better.  

​PASSIONATE ABOUT WELLNESS AND PERSONALIZED CARE
We’re dedicated to bringing you the highest quality of health care and a personalized approach to managing your wellness. Our patient-centered style of care empowers you with the resources to become a strong advocate for your own health and make decisions with your health care provider.
 
FIND US IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
We offer a broad range of primary and specialty health care services with locations in Altoona, Arcadia, Augusta, Chippewa Falls, Cornell, Eau Claire, Ladysmith, Menomonie, Mondovi and Rice Lake. For a complete list of medical specialties and providers, visit prevea.com. We are also a proud partner of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.
 
THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME
It’s easy to access our services when you need them. Need to schedule an appointment for a routine exam or with a specialist? Call (888) 277-3832 or schedule your appointment with select providers at prevea.com. Maybe you are looking for a new doctor. No problem. We’ll guide you through the process.   

As a better way to serve you, visit prevea.com/urgentcare to check out our estimated wait times or “save your spot” by making an online reservation.

​Prevea Care After Hours
If you have an injury, illness or medical question after our health center is closed, use Prevea Care After Hours. It’s a 24-hour phone service staffed by our experienced medical professionals who will answer your medical questions after our health centers are closed. Call (888) 277-3832

​Rhom Construction LLC has been serving Northwestern Wisconsin with superior commercial construction services since 2004.  Our company values of dedication, integrity and honesty play a significant role and are the roots of success for Rhom Construction.  We are locally owned and managed by Nicholas Mohr.

​Some recently completed and current projects are: Celebration of Life Center, Prevea-Rice Lake & Ladysmith, CCF Bank, EC Super Wash, Fairfax Pool, Toppers, Cardinal Glass, McDonalds-Spooner, Black River, Merrill & Turtle Lake, Church of Notre Dame, Chippewa Falls Fire Station, Northside Pet Hospital, and many area schools

​The past few years, we have been very fortunate to grow our business within the Chippewa Valley.  Our completed projects range from public works to private entities including government, education, retail and businesses. Watch for our trucks and trailers around the Chippewa Valley​!

Mission Statement: ​“Rhom Construction LLC provides commercial construction services that focus on dedication, integrity and honesty.  Our professionals utilize their strong work ethic, powerful communication skills and trade knowledge to create a professional environment & satisfaction to all customers”
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Check us out on Facebook, LinkedIn and www.rhomconstruction.com

​The Alliance offers network savings and access for self-funded employers

For employers who self-fund their health benefits, The Alliance represents network savings and access, solved.
The Alliance is a not-for profit cooperative of more than 240 organizations who self-fund their health plan through our extensive network of providers in Wisconsin, northern Illinois and eastern Iowa. Member organizations range in size from 60 to 8,700 employees, with an average of about 400 employees.
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The Alliance was founded in 1990 by seven Madison-area employers looking for solutions to their rising health care costs. Together, they created a cooperative that continues to take aim at the health benefit issues dragging down the bottom line.
Today, members save an average of 39 percent and buy $780 million in health care in a 12-month period.

Expanding Network of Providers in Your Area
The Alliance network is a flexible platform that allows employers to innovate and customize based on their priorities and needs. Our approach varies by region because each community is unique.
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Within the Chippewa Valley we have more than 75 health systems to offer organizations in that area for their health care benefit needs. The Alliance network includes:

• HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
• Marshfield Clinic
• HSHS St Joseph’s Hospital
• Prevea Health‘s Western Division
• OakLeaf Surgical Hospital
• And many more.

Overall, The Alliance network includes about 120 hospitals, 500 chiropractic clinics, 10,000 doctors and 5,500 medical clinics. To view a full list of in-network providers, visit the-alliance.org and click on Find a Doctor.   

​Alliance Membership Benefits 
The Alliance also offers employers:

• Educational Events: Training and insights to create better health benefits and better health for your employees.
• Bundled Pricing & Steerage: Opportunities to steer employees to high-quality care for surgeries and tests with bundled pricing and warranties through QualityPath® and other network providers, including Twin Cities Orthopedics in Minnesota and NOVO Health in Appleton, Wis.
• Vendor Partnerships: Strategic partnerships – for pharmacy, dental, vision, workers’ compensation and more – add value to your health benefits.
• Flexibility: You can design a plan to match the needs of your employees and your organization.
• Support: A dedicated team of self-funding experts are available to answer your questions and guide you to self-funding success. 

The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County (ADRC) staff is celebrating 10 years serving Eau Claire County! Located at 721 Oxford Ave we are easy to find; our office is right off the main entrance. Encourage anyone to come and visit!

Our mission is to help people age 60+ and adults with disabilities secure needed services or benefits, live with dignity and security and achieve maximum independence and quality of life.

The Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is a grant program through the Federal Department of Health & Human Services Administration on Aging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The grant program was developed to assist states in their efforts to create a single, coordinated system of information and access for all persons seeking long-term care support to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice and support informed decision-making.

​There are no income requirements to utilize the services of the ADRC. ADRC's assist anyone age 60 and over as well as adults age 18-59 with disabilities. ADRC services are also available to family members, friends, caregivers and professionals working with these populations.

Visit ADRC's website
ADRC on Facebook

The incredible ADRC staff is knowledgeable on a wide array of resources including:

• Information, assistance and long-term care options
• Counseling
• Information about housing, transportation, supportive home care and much more
• Payment options including public funding
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October is Co-op Month
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative engages members and the public
Since the first member home and farm was energized in 1938, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative has encouraged Co-op consumer-members to be engaged in their co-op and the communities they live in. They currently do this through many programs including energy efficiency incentives, Focus on Energy, Evergreen and MemberSolar programs as well as their elected Board of Directors, volunteer Member Advisory Council and high school Youth Ambassador Program.
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In addition, every two years during the election cycle since 2002, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative has organized the Candidates Energy Forum which features a panel of area state legislative candidates. Sixteen Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly candidates from the surrounding Chippewa Valley have been invited to participate. The event is co-sponsored by Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire Economic Development Corporation and the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association. It’s the cooperative way! Please join us at The Florian Gardens on Wednesday, October 3. Refreshments will be available and the public is invited.