MCHS delays plans for new hospital to thoroughly evaluate options for the future

For Hub City Times

Dr. Susan Turney, president and CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS), today issued the following statement about the system’s commitment to and investment in the future of health care in the region:

Turney

“Marshfield Clinic Health System is pleased to have signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and we look forward to working with Ascension in the coming months to finalize the transition. Having MCHS purchase Saint Joseph’s represents a bridge to the future of health care in Marshfield. Taking ownership of the hospital means we can restore services, significantly reduce diversions, and maintain jobs that might otherwise leave our community. We anticipate no major disruption in employment for most Saint Joseph’s employees, both during the transition and after the sale.

“Our focus for the immediate future will be on continuing to provide world-class Marshfield Clinic care to patients at Saint Joseph’s as well as working with Ascension to restore services that have been reduced over the past several months. During this process we will conduct a thorough evaluation of Saint Joseph’s to determine what additional upgrades and investment make sense and what future role the building can play in how we care for the Marshfield community.

“Now that we are assured that high quality care can and will continue to be available in Marshfield, we are putting on hold our plans for a new Marshfield hospital. While we know the community will need an updated, state-of-the-art facility in the near future, acquiring Saint Joseph’s offers new options that should be researched, evaluated, and considered. We will keep the community informed of our progress, but it will take time to finalize the sale and our plans.

“Owning Saint Joseph’s Hospital, along with other system improvements we’re making — including our new comfort and recovery suites in Marshfield, Eau Claire and Wausau — will continue to make Marshfield Clinic Health System a destination for world-class health care delivered by a talented team of doctors, nurses, and additional staff. I thank our thousands of Marshfield Clinic employees and the Marshfield community for their support and look forward to welcoming Saint Joseph’s employees to the team. As MCHS enters its second century of serving this region, I am optimistic about the future.”