March 11, 2016
Ministry Health Care, part of Ascension Wisconsin, and Marshfield Clinic Health System Announce the Execution of a Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Sale of Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital and The Diagnostic & Treatment Center
Ministry Health Care (Ministry), part of Ascension Wisconsin, and Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the sale of Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and for Ministry to acquire full ownership of The Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Weston from the Marshfield Clinic.
MCHS will continue to provide the same level of clinical and physician services at its Marshfield Clinic Wausau and Weston Centers. The organizations have been discussing how to continue serving the healthcare needs of the area and those discussions have led to the signing of the MOU. MCHS and Ministry have also agreed to immediately develop a transition plan to facilitate the continued provision of expert and compassionate care that has been provided at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital for 125 years.
"Ministry is very proud of the high-quality, compassionate, personalized care we have provided to our family and friends in the Marshfield community," stated Daniel E. Neufelder, President and CEO for Ministry Health Care. "The MOU is an expression of interest from both organizations to find a workable outcome, which best meets the needs of our patients, the Marshfield community and Ministry Health Care associates," he said.
"We are happy to reach this agreement with Ascension's Ministry Health Care and add Saint Joseph's Hospital as an important part of the Marshfield Clinic Health System," said MCHS CEO Dr. Susan Turney. "This is a positive development for the Marshfield community and all of central Wisconsin as it means that MCHS will continue to invest in our local communities. Patients will be able to continue to receive world-class healthcare in Marshfield for years to come. We will continue to augment our high-quality services collaboratively or independently in our entire footprint."
"Purchasing Saint Joseph's Hospital provides MCHS an opportunity to deliver faster on our commitment to what patients in our communities have come to expect from us – enriching lives through accessible, affordable, compassionate health care," said Dr. Narayana S. Murali, Chief Clinical Strategy Officer, MCHS. "It also allows us to continue to provide state-of-the-art services as a destination for high-quality care, while preserving jobs in the community."
"The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother came to Marshfield over 125 years ago to meet the need for healthcare services in that community," stated Sister Lois Bush, SSM and Senior Vice President for Ministry Health Care. "Today, we recognize those needs will be met in new and different ways but there will continue to be a focus on patients, their families and the community."
"In communities across the country, Ascension seeks to serve the changing needs of individuals in the most appropriate way possible," said Patricia Maryland, Dr. PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Health. "We look forward to Ministry Health Care and Marshfield Clinic Health System reaching an agreement that will best serve the residents of the Marshfield and Wausau/Weston communities."
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About Ministry Health Care
Ministry Health Care (www.ministryhealth.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery network serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Ministry generates nearly $2.2 billion in annual operating revenue with 15 hospitals, 46 clinics and over 10,000 associates, including 700 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. In 2013, Ministry Health Care joined Ascension, the largest Catholic and not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. In that same year, Ministry became part of Integrated Health Network (IHN), which represents more than 5,000 physicians, 500 clinics and 42 hospitals in northern, central and eastern Wisconsin. IHN was created to improve the quality, efficiency and value of healthcare services in the markets served by its members.
Ministry is ranked among the top 20 percent of healthcare systems in the country according to Truven Health Analytics, and five Ministry hospitals are ranked in the top 10 in the state in Medicare's Hospital Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program. Network Health, co-owned by Ministry Health Care and Froedtert Health, has received 4 ½-star recognition by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its Medicare Advantage plans.
About Marshfield Clinic
Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) values its 100-year tradition of providing trusted, patient-centered care in central Wisconsin and believes that working with others in the community is the key to the future. The system oversees Marshfield Clinic, and with more than 50 locations is focused on high quality care, research and education and serves as a regional destination for world-class health care. Other subsidiaries include Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc.; Marshfield Clinic Information Services; Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls and Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake. Overall, MCHS has more than 700 physicians practicing in over 80 specialties and subspecialties, with more than 6,500 employees throughout the region.
About Ascension
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2015, Ascension provided nearly $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Approximately 160,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers serve in 2,000 sites of care – including 137 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to healthcare delivery, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension's own group purchasing organization.
About Ascension Wisconsin
Ascension Wisconsin includes Columbia St. Mary's, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and Ministry Health Care (which includes Affinity Health System), with 27 hospitals and hundreds of sites of care across the state. Together, the health systems employ more than 24,000 associates and nearly 1,000 medical group physicians. In fiscal year 2015, the health systems that now comprise Ascension Wisconsin provided $300 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty.