Mayo Clinic Health System celebrates 20th anniversary

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist, 715-838-3012, barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — This year marks the 20th anniversary of Mayo Clinic Health System. What began as a partnership between Mayo Clinic and a six-physician practice in Decorah, Iowa, has grown into a health care delivery system that includes more than 70 locations across Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Mayo Clinic Health System patients benefit from high-quality primary and some specialty health care in their own communities, combined with easy access to the resources of Mayo Clinic. But, there are other benefits of being part of Mayo Clinic Health System. When Mayo Clinic comes to town:

• The number of physicians available locally grows.
• New medical services are offered, including specialized medical equipment and technology.
•  Aging facilities are updated.

In addition, as the largest employer in many communities, Mayo Clinic Health System helps drive local economies. In 2010, Mayo Clinic Health System made a $1.7 billion impact on Wisconsin’s economy and a $1.3 billion impact on Minnesota’s economy. The organization also invests heavily in its communities, supporting local educational and charitable programs.

In northwest Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic Health System includes:

• Barron: In 1998, the clinic, hospital, nursing home and retirement apartment complex became part of Mayo Clinic Health System. This fall, a construction project to build a new emergency department and expand the medical clinic will be completed. Services include surgery, transitional care, family medicine and birthing center, an assisted living facility and nursing home.
• Bloomer: In 1998, Bloomer Community Memorial Hospital affiliated with Mayo Clinic Health System. The clinic expanded into a new building attached to the hospital which was completed in 2000. Offerings include emergency and surgery services, transitional care, family medicine and a nursing home.
• Cameron: A new clinic was built in 2002 and includes providers in family medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, sleep disorders, lab and X-ray.
• Chetek: The medical clinic expanded in 1999 and includes family medicine providers, lab and X-ray.
• Chippewa Falls: The clinic joined the health system in 1992 and now employs more than 40 staff, including family medicine and pediatric and adolescent medicine providers and many outreach specialists.
• Colfax: In 1999, what was known as Dunn County Family Practice joined the health system. Family medicine, radiology and lab services are offered
• Eau Claire: Luther Hospital and Midelfort Clinic officially joined together and became part of Mayo Clinic Health System in 1992, becoming the second site in the system and its largest with about 3,000 employees. The Mayo One helicopter base was added in 1993. In Eau Claire, more than 220 physicians provide both general and specialty medicine, including heart and orthopedic surgery, cancer care, women’s health, Primary Stroke Center and the region’s only Level II Trauma Center.
• Elmwood: The clinic provides family medicine, geriatrics, lab, X-ray and specialty clinics for anticoagulation and blood pressure/blood sugar.
• Glenwood City: The clinic provides family medicine, diabetes education, physical therapy, holistic medicine, anticoagulation clinic, blood pressure/blood sugar clinic, lab and X-ray to patients.
• Menomonie: Myrtle Werth Hospital and Red Cedar Clinic became part of Mayo Clinic Health System during the mid-1990s and officially became one organization in 2006. The medical center provides primary care, urgent care and emergency services as well as surgical services, physical rehabilitation, obstetrics and access to specialists close to home. It is a leader in community health and wellness, offering more than 650 community opportunities in 2011.
• Mondovi: The clinic offers sleep lab studies, women’s health, physical therapy services and family medicine.
• Osseo: Osseo Area Municipal Hospital joined Mayo Clinic Health System in 2004. The 25-bed critical access hospital and adjoining clinic provides primary care, urgent care, emergency and other services including rehabilitation, CT, mammography and lab. There also is a nursing home, assisted living and pharmacy on site.
• Prairie Farm: The rural health clinic offers services in family medicine, internal medicine and lab.
• Rice Lake: The clinic opened in 2007 and has expanded to accommodate the growing demand for primary and specialty services, with seven family medicine providers and more than 20 specialty services.