Sept. 26, 2016
Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) has appointed Ned Wolf chief administrative officer (CAO) for its Marshfield hospital.
Wolf, who has been CAO for Lakeview Medical Center (LMC) in Rice Lake the past 22 years, also was interim Marshfield hospital CAO since June 2015.
In March, MCHS entered into a memorandum of understanding with Ascension Wisconsin/Ministry Health Care to purchase Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. Work continues on finalizing the acquisition agreement.
"When we launched plans in 2014 for a hospital in Marshfield, Ned Wolf agreed to be our lead on the project and used his extensive hospital expertise to help coordinate this effort," said MCHS CEO Dr. Susan Turney. "As our plans evolved from building a hospital to purchasing the existing hospital, he was a guide for the business of hospital care delivery to best serve our patients and the community."
While Wolf served as interim CAO, Marshfield Clinic expanded its outpatient surgery and other ambulatory services as part of an integrated approach to health care focused on reducing overall cost of care and improving patient experience. Purchase of the hospital is the next step in providing fully-integrated care for Clinic patients.
Wolf will assist in the transition for LMC's new CAO, for which the hiring process has begun. Dr. John Olson, LMC chief medical officer, and Jackie Klein, LMC chief finance officer, will oversee hospital operations in the interim.
Wolf provided leadership for LMC for two decades, through its affiliation with Marshfield Clinic in 2007. He oversaw construction of a new LMC facility in Rice Lake that opened in 2011, located adjacent to the Clinic's Rice Lake Center. This medical campus, along with Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., is considered a cutting-edge model for health care.
"The experience of that project being completed on time, on budget and functioning well for staff and patients was a great accomplishment for the Rice Lake community," Wolf said. "As the transition to hospital ownership is nearly completed, we look forward to providing another 100 years of high quality care and patient experience in Marshfield."
Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) oversees Marshfield Clinic and other subsidiaries, including Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., MCIS, Inc., Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls and Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake. Marshfield Clinic, with more than 50 locations in Wisconsin, serves patients through accessible, high quality health care, research and education; with more than 700 physician specialists in 86 specialties and subspecialties and more than 6,500 employees. MCHS is overseen by a Board of Directors with 13 independent members and 11 physicians who comprise the Marshfield Clinic Board.