Wisconsin Rural Health and Substance Use Clinical Support (RHeSUS) Program

At a Glance

The RHeSUS initiative seeks to close the substance misuse treatment gap by improving treatment and care for people struggling with substance use disorders in rural Wisconsin. The team aims to enhance the care delivery capacity of rural primary care clinics and hospitals and the availability of peer recovery support to rural residents. The team aims to enhance the care delivery capacity of rural primary care clinics and hospitals and the availability of peer recovery support to rural residents. This initiative supports a new collaboration between Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, academic partner Dr. Randall Brown, professor of family medicine, and the Wisconsin Hospital Association, which will leverage its network of health systems to facilitate this work.

The Challenge

Substance misuse and related health consequences have escalated at alarming rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and lack of access to treatment and supports have left Wisconsin’s rural communities particularly vulnerable.