Chippewa Falls (Wis.) City Council has approved Aspirus Health's proposed location for a new hospital in the city to fill a gap left in the region from the closure of two hospitals earlier this year, WEAU reported Dec. 17.
Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus announced plans to build a new hospital in the city in November. Aspirus' plan comes after Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System closed Chippewa Falls-based St. Joseph's Hospital and Eau Claire, Wis.-based Sacred Heart Hospital on March 22.
"Communities throughout our region have made clear just how much they value local access to emergency and hospital care," Jim Matheson, Aspirus Health's senior vice president and chief strategy officer, said in a Nov. 14 news release. "Yet environmental and industry challenges make it very difficult for a hospital to succeed in an area like Chippewa Falls. Fortunately, Aspirus has a proven track record of success and we are confident in our strategy to sustain and grow services here."
Aspirus currently operates 18 hospitals and more than 130 outpatient locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.