01/30/2024
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you as the Mayor of Augusta, Wisconsin, where our small town of 1500 has recently become a victim of the healthcare crisis. Since its inception in1995 our local family medical clinic has served not only the needs of the people in town, but those of the surrounding areas. The population served by the clinic consists of a variety of ages and backgrounds including children, adults, Amish, Mennonite, families, and the aged. With the recent Prevea shutdown announcement, these people stand to lose access to the exceptional healthcare they have been receiving in this clinic since it opened its doors in 1995.
Although the present staff numbers less than 10 people, the two physicians have been in this location each for over 20 years. If you were to visit this clinic, you would be greeted by the warm and friendly receptionist who has been taking care of patients here for the past 27 years. The nurses on staff both grew up in this area and live close to the clinic. We are proud of our town and exceptionally proud to have a clinic and staff of this caliber in Augusta.
How does a little town like ours retain our clinic and staff? Who can we find to rent the building and keep the clinic open? Most importantly, how can we grant accessible quality healthcare to the people of our town and the surrounding community?
If you are an organization who is interested in owning a small-town clinic, staffed by caring, knowledgeable, and tenured health care providers, I would love to invite you to see our facility and meet the wonderful people who staff our clinic.
If you presently live in a town with great healthcare access and a wonderful clinic like the Augusta clinic, count yourself as one of the very lucky.
Jason TePaske, Mayor
City of Augusta, Wisconsin
