Wednesday marks one year since HSHS announced it would be pulling all of its services from Western Wisconsin. Since the announcement, other healthcare providers, local leaders and the community have come together to help adjust to the closures.
Chippewa County is looking into the possibility of building a new hospital after HSHS and Prevea’s abrupt departure from the region in March left gaps in healthcare and emergency services.
In our continuing coverage of the healthcare shutdown in Western Wisconsin, we are still following up on the status of $15 million in state funding meant to help address it.
OakLeaf Clinics has added two urgent care facilities opening this month to help fill the gap in critical healthcare services in the Chippewa Valley following the closure of HSHS and Prevea locations in April.
“The Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce has always been an advocate for quality, affordable health care in our community and that won’t change,” said Dave Minor.
Chippewa Falls Shared Ride Transit will offer a connection to two Eau Claire Transit bus routes to help Chippewa Falls residents get to their medical appointments following HSHS and Prevea closures.
Lawmakers are back in Madison discussing funding meant to help address the healthcare shutdown in the Chippewa Valley. State Senate Republicans called Tuesday’s hearing to overrule vetoes from Governor Evers, including the $15 million in emergency room funding.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services responded on Thursday to City Attorney Stephen Nick’s request for an investigation into HSHS following the closures of area hospitals.
For more than a month, healthcare workers in the area have been working to maintain the same level of care in the Chippewa Valley as there are now only two emergency departments. Now, care is still being provided in the region, with some adjustments.
