What's happening: The merger between Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System is complete, impacting one Upper Peninsula hospital. Now called the Marshfield Clinic Health System, Sanford will maintain the footprint of the roughly 60 locations. This includes the Iron Mountain hospital, which provides birth services, emergency departments and many surgical services for citizens of Iron and Dickinson counties. Originally the Dickinson County Hospital, the healthcare facility joined the then-Wisconsin based Marshfield Clinic in 2022. Marshfiled completed a $26 million capital improvement program that added a new cancer center.
Why the merger: Sanford Health is the largest health system in the United States focusing on rural healthcare needs. The Sioux Falls, S.D., company employs roughly 56,000 employees among 56 hospitals in states from Wyoming to Wisconsin. Including Marshfield will expand Sanford Health into Michigan for the first time. While the overall company provides multiple healthcare platforms, Sanford Health is a nonprofit organization and will employ an additional 13,000 employees after the merger.
What they're saying: “Our partnership brings together two organizations deeply committed to advancing health care for the people and communities we serve in rural America,” said Brian Hoerneman, M.D., who previously served as interim CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System and has now transitioned to the role of president and CEO of the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead as our teams learn from each other and combine our complementary strengths, cultures and missions. Together, we will build on our shared legacy, creating a future where every person, regardless of zip code, has access to the best possible care.”
What's next: While patients will continue receiving care from their providers at the same locations, Sanford Health is implementing an integration process to help adopt Marshfield locations into the larger organization. No immediate changes are expected to patient care during the process. Three members of the Marshfield board — Dr. George Brown, Thomas Wenzel and Dr. Maureen McCausland — will join the Sanford board.
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