Marshfield Clinic submits hospital site plan to Eau Claire Plan Commission

Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) has submitted to the City a site plan for a new, 44-bed hospital to be staffed by its world-class physicians and providers and built just south of the Clinic’s Eau Claire Center on West Clairemont Avenue. The Eau Claire Plan Commission is expected to review the hospital site plan in the coming weeks, with construction anticipated to start shortly after City approval.

The new hospital, which will have attached cancer care, is the cornerstone of MCHS’s “Caring for the Chippewa Valley” initiative to create an integrated local health care system able to maximize efficiencies and make high quality care more affordable for area patients. The Eau Claire Plan Commission approved the site plan for the cancer center building in October.

“‘Caring for the Chippewa Valley’ puts the three main components of health care – outpatient care by our world-class physicians and staff, insurance through our Security Health Plan product, and now inpatient care at a new MCHS hospital – under one umbrella, where they can work together to provide even greater value for patients,” said Dr. Susan Turney, MCHS CEO. “Data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association shows that Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley face some of the highest health care costs in the state. Our world-class physicians and medical staff already provide outstanding care. This new hospital and cancer facility will put MCHS in a strong position to start making local care more affordable.”

The hospital and cancer center are already permitted uses for the property under current zoning ordinances. The Plan Commission will review the hospital site plan to ensure it satisfies the review criteria set forth in the ordinance.

“In addition to making our high-quality health care more affordable, we’re also very committed to making our new hospital and cancer center a true community asset,” Turney said. “It’s exciting to see our plans make progress, and we look forward to continuing the process with the City.”

The hospital will be built at 1202 W. Clairemont Avenue, current site of the Plaza Hotel & Suites. MCHS has purchased the real estate, and the hotel business ceased operations in October. The Plaza will be demolished as part of the project, with the cancer center tentatively set to open in 2017 and the hospital in 2018.