By Adam Hocking 

Editor

MARSHFIELD — Ministry Health Care has confirmed to Hub City Times that Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital will transition into a smaller-scale facility over time. This news was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

President and CEO of Ministry Health Care Daniel Neufelder has said in the past that the organization had “made no plans to reduce services at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital.” However, in an email statement responding to questions from Hub City Times,  Ministry confirmed a new direction in Marshfield.

“Yes, MSJH (Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital) is changing and has been changing. The pace of change continues to move quickly, and our strategic initiatives have now been more clearly defined than they were in September. Given MC’s (Marshfield Clinic’s) decision to build, we could not possibly maintain the same size facility,” the statement said.

This statement came just days after Ministry announced it would pursue a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin to help recruit “specialty care clinicians” to bolster its Wausau-area presence.

Ministry will transition Saint Joseph’s away from being a “tertiary” hospital, meaning one that offers highly specialized care, while focusing on expanding Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital in Weston, the statement said.

“We continue to make improvements at MSJH to keep patients safe and (create) a comfortable place for quality care. Most of Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital’s north tower inpatient rooms have been converted to private rooms. Given the direction of MC to build a new hospital in Marshfield, any future investments will have to consider the impact of that new facility,” the statement said.

Marshfield Clinic is planning to build its own hospital in Marshfield, which is poised to open in 2018.

Hub City Times is working to find out more details surrounding this story.