BUILDING MORE THAN A HOSPITAL: INVESTING IN RURAL HEALTHCARE

Actions are being taken in rural Wisconsin through St. Croix Health building hospitals and supporting rural communities. This article contains details of the new St. Croix Regional Medical Center, including an emergency department, surgical suits, enhanced outpatient services, and more. The Board Chair of the organization, Trudy Canine, reminds people that this is more than a building, but a way to bring community together:

…Board Chair Trudy Canine reminded attendees that the project represented much more than a new building. It reflected a shared vision for the future—a place where healing, hope, compassion and community will come together for generations (Compeer, 2026).

The St. Croix Health has done more than just build a hospital. Committed to changing the lives of people, they partner with Compeer Financial to fund other facilities that rural communities have limited access to.

Through Community Facility Financing, Compeer Financial helps finance hospitals, senior care facilities and other essential facilities that help rural communities thrive. The new St. Croix Regional Medical Center demonstrates how those partnerships can help communities invest in their future by improving access to care while supporting long-term economic vitality(Compeer, 2026).

The organization‘s story started early in the century with a Navy Physician from WWI. Dr. Jake Riegel returned home and spent his time making house calls, taking care of the surrounding countryside where he lived. The organization grew as the community did, creating clinics and hospitals while also supporting local businesses.

This article helped me see how investing in rural healthcare can be about more than simply building a hospital. I found it especially interesting that St. Croix Health focused on creating a space that could bring healthcare, community, and other resources together. The organization’s history also showed me how healthcare can grow alongside a community, beginning with a physician making house calls and eventually expanding into clinics and hospitals. This made me think about how rural healthcare solutions do not always have to start with creating something completely new. Existing community organizations, facilities, and partnerships can be used to expand access and support the people who already live there. The partnership between St. Croix Health and Compeer Financial also showed me the importance of collaboration and community investment when addressing rural healthcare challenges. This article encouraged me to think beyond individual healthcare products and consider how design could support larger systems and spaces that bring healthcare resources closer to rural communities.

Reference

Compeer. (2026, August 17). Building more than a hospital: Investing in rural healthcare. https://www.compeer.com/articles/building-more-than-a-hospital-investing-in-rural-healthcare