The hospital building concepts are unveiled during the groundbreaking ceremony. Hub City Times staff photo

By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Medical Center has taken the next step in building a new facility in Neillsville, after acquiring the former Memorial Medical Center a few years ago. A ground-breaking ceremony was held Aug. 19 at the site of the new 100,000 square-foot medical facility, on what is now an empty field just off River Avenue on Neillsville’s west side.

Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Neville said the $45 million project is about connecting the dots between the community of Neillsville and the many available services at the main Clinic and Hospital facilities in Marshfield.

Melissa Breen, Marshfield Clinic Health Systems Administrative Chief of Staff, said the new facility shows the Clinic’s commitment to Neillsville, at a time when many rural communities are struggling with the lack of health care services.

Neillsville Mayor Chuck Glassbrenner was thankful for the Marshfield Medical Center’s new investment in his community and for the standard of care established by the Memorial Medical Center.

The former Memorial Medical Center first began in 1950, continuing the tradition of a hospital which had served the Neillsville area since 1943. Neville said the new hospital and clinic will replace the current facility, which opened October 3, 1954.

Neville says his staff will start seeing patients in the new Neillsville facility in February 2021. The new center will feature 16 inpatient beds, two operating rooms, an infusion center, multi-specialty clinic with 29 exam rooms, a wellness center with YMCA oversight, a retail pharmacy, and expanded lab and radiology facilities.