Baldwin asks HSHS, Prevea to delay western Wisconsin closures

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is asking that Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea Health consider delaying their western Wisconsin closures.

Baldwin wrote in a Monday letter to HSHS CEO Damond Boatwright that she was disappointed about the “abrupt” announcement last month that the two organizations plan to close the bulk of their operations in the region by April 21, including Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

“HSHS should consider delaying closures to ensure healthcare services continue to be available in the Chippewa Valley,” Baldwin wrote in her letter. “I expect that HSHS consider, in good faith, offers to purchase your facilities and equipment to support the continuation of healthcare services in the region for the patient populations served by Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Hospitals.”

A spokesperson for HSHS said Tuesday they have been in regular contact with elected officials and community leaders since they announced their exit from western Wisconsin.

“We discussed why we can no longer sustain the financial losses and operational challenges facing these ministries and that continued challenges, local market dynamics and our inability to find a partner to take these assets left us with no other option but to close Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals,” the spokesperson said. “We did not come to this decision lightly and we, too, are grieving this loss.”

HSHS said they are providing support for their impacted employees, including career transition help and severance packages. They are also winding down their operations “thoughtfully and with patient safety as our top priority.” That includes helping with care transition plans and continuity of care options. They are working with other local providers on the matter.

On Friday, Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine filed a lawsuit in Eau Claire County Court seeking to keep the hospitals open until at least July 21.

The orthopedic medicine clinic, which is part of OakLeaf Medical Network, said its contract requires a 180-day notice to terminate the relationship. HSHS did not issue such a notice, they said.

Dr. Austin Crow, president of the clinic, said the two hospitals “have been on an accelerated path to systematically shut down services and programs and remove critical, community-funded medical equipment and resources far in advance” of the announced closure date, impacting the clinic, other area doctors and patients.

“The lights are on, but less and less is being done to care for the patients HSHS ethically must serve as HSHS actively forces cancellations at a rapid rate,” Crow said in a statement.

Crow said the delay would give time to develop a plan as the closures could result in the region’s entire healthcare system being overwhelmed. The HSHS spokesperson said they do not discuss pending litigation.

Meanwhile, OakLeaf has hired Mike Sanders, founder and managing partner of 1100 Partners, to develop a plan to establish an independent community hospital in the Chippewa Valley. Sanders previously was CEO of Monroe Clinic. OakLeaf has reached out to HSHS to open negotiations, but said Friday the health system hasn’t responded beyond acknowledging it’s received the request.

“We do not have any new information to provide,” the HSHS spokesperson said Tuesday. “Our focus right now is on safely winding down our services and helping our patients transition their care to other hospitals and providers.”

On Tuesday, in response to the anticipated closures, Aspirus Health said that it’s adding six inpatient beds and increasing surgical capacity at Aspirus Stanley Hospital. It’ll also add eight inpatient beds at its hospital in Medford.

It’s planning to build additional ancillary service capacity too, like for lab, imaging and wound care.

And it’s enhancing its tertiary care center in Wausau and at other hospitals to accommodate more referrals and specialty services.

Aspirus is accelerating recruitment efforts and hopes to soon finalize an affiliation with St. Luke’s in Duluth, Minn. to expand care.

“We serve communities along the eastern edge of the Chippewa Valley and are moving quickly to safely increase our capacity to support patients seeking health care services,” CEO Matt Heywood said in a statement.

Mayo Clinic Health System is responding too. Dr. Richard Helmers, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin, said they are working to increase the number of patients they can care for at their five northwestern Wisconsin hospitals.

They’re also planning to increase the number of deliveries they provide at their birth center and looking for ways to care for more patients in emergency departments and urgent care clinics.

The health system is working to expand its hospital-at-home program and recently introduced a virtual care app to give patients more access to care.

“In addition to an increase in patients needing care, healthcare workers and students have been impacted by these changes,” Helmers said in a statement. “We are working to match qualified healthcare workers with open positions that are appropriate for their skills.”

They plan to add 10,000 clinical hours for nursing students and others training to become medical professionals.

They’re also working with the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce’s task force that’s responding to the situation.

The chamber on Monday sent a letter to lawmakers in support of legislation that would repurpose $15 million in unspent state funds for mental health beds at HSHS for emergency care.

“These funds serve as an opportunity to help meet immediate needs while longer-term solutions are formulated and implemented,” wrote Scott Rogers, vice president governmental affairs, for the organization.

Legislative committees in Madison are holding public hearings on the plan Wednesday.

The proposal drew criticism from Eau Claire Democrats Friday. Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick, said that “offering a $15 Hail Mary now for no clear result is insulting to our community” and a “distraction from the current challenge to come up with creative solutions to this complicated crisis.”

“I am disappointed that the Republican legislators in the Chippewa Valley are choosing this moment to play partisan politics and not include Democrats in this bill,” said Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire. “This is a time where we need to work together to support our communities.”

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