Wilderness Health is a collaborative of independent health care providers in Northeastern Minnesota. By working together, the group is advancing patient and community health outcomes, improving the patient experience, and lowering costs.
Like all rural areas, these communities face unique healthcare challenges. Many Wilderness Health members are located in some of the state’s most remote areas and cover large geographical areas, with large distances between providers.

The Performance Excellence Network is pleased to welcome Cassandra Beardsley, Executive Director of Wilderness Health, to our Dec 19 TPPEN breakfast featuring a discussion on: “Working Together to Face the Future: Forming a Rural Collaborative.”

Cassandra will share how this group of independent providers decided to work together as they describe how they developed a governance structure where each provider has equal representation regardless of size, how they plan to collaborate to achieve the Triple Aim, and what their plans are for maintaining independent high-quality facilities within their communities. Cassandra’s talk will provide insights appropriate to any partnership or collaborative.

Cassandra was appointed as the Wilderness Health Executive Director in March 2013. As the Executive Director, she works with providers and stakeholders on both short and long-term visions to address health care changes at the local, state and federal level. She has led the development of the organization from concept to implementation.

The discussion will be hosted by St. Luke’s in Duluth (details after registration).  Continental breakfast will be served from 7:00 to 7:30 with the discussion from 7:30 to 8:30 am. No cost for members; $20 for non-members.