The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Center for Communication Disorders (CCD) is expanding its speech-language health care service options to respond to community needs after the announcement that multiple clinics and hospitals are closing in the Chippewa Valley.
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls will close along with several Prevea Health clinics in the region in March and April, reducing the available speech therapy and audiology services.
“With the HSHS and Prevea closure, we, at the CCD, have experienced an increase in the number of people from the Chippewa Valley inquiring about and accessing our speech and language services,” says Lindsay Pohlen, CCD director. “This has provided our student clinicians with the opportunity to earn clinical hours and has diversified their clinical experience. The Center for Communication Disorders is grateful to be able to serve those in our community.”
The campus-based CCD provides speech-language pathology services across all age ranges, from early childhood through late adulthood. All services are free and provided by undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in speech-language pathology, audiology or other similar professions.
