CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Eight months after two major hospitals closed in western Wisconsin, there may now be just as many new ones built in the Chippewa Valley.
Aspirus Health's proposal would bring what it calls a progressive facility to the east side of Chippewa Falls. Services would include emergency and inpatient beds, as well as primary care, lab and imaging services.
In a statement, Aspirus Health President and CEO Matt Heywood wrote, "In our rapidly changing world, we understand that we must advance new care models. Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, we look forward to meeting current local care needs and growing with the community for generations to come."
Aspirus says it would be located where it would have convenient access to Highway 29 with room to expand. It also says it wants to close on the property this winter.
Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman says the city council is still privately negotiating the sale of the land, but supports the proposal.
"It's moving very quickly and they really want to get a shovel in the ground probably next April," said Hoffman.
Aspirus is headquartered in Wausau and operates 18 hospitals with 14,000 employees.
In March, Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a faith-based health system with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, closed Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.
The hospitals are about a 25-minute drive apart, but the closures more than doubled drive times and put pressure on the two other hospitals in Eau Claire that are already at capacity. Nearly 1,100 employees also lost their jobs.
This is a persistent problem playing out across the country. According to the American Hospital Association, there were 136 rural hospital closures from 2010 to 2021, as well as a record 19 closures in 2020 alone.
"Since the hospitals have closed we've spent a tremendous amount of time saying, what do we really need for the future, what is the future hospital going to look like," said Hoffman. "I don't think we need five story hospitals anymore."
What's more - a non-profit intends to also open a hospital in the Chippewa Valley.
Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative was founded in 2024 and says its new, independent hospital will be a 501c3 nonprofit organization, locally governed and managed by a local board of directors elected by local community members of the cooperative.
In a statement, Chair of the Board of Organizers Bob Krause wrote, "We must have a modern, innovative hospital accountable to the people of the Chippewa Valley, not management teams outside of the region, to make a lasting, positive impact on our community’s health and well-being for generations to come."
In a news release, Krause says it has the commitment of about 125 independent physicians and there could be up to as many as 70 beds.
Mayor Hoffman says the cooperative plans to release more information on December 9th. City officials wouldn't comment whether the two entities, Aspirus and Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative, would work together in some way.
"Would it be better having another hospital or two, yes," said Hoffman. "We really do need more beds."
Aspirus says once it gets all the necessary approvals, it could complete construction and begin serving the community in about 18 months.