CLOSING ITS DOORS. HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's Hospitals locations, Prevea Health locations to close by summertime in the Valley. (Photo via Facebook)

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire (900 W Clairemont Ave.,), HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls (2661 Cty Hwy I), and all Prevea Health locations across the Chippewa Valley will permanently close by June 30, 2024. The announcement, made by media release, was shared on Monday, Jan. 22. 

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a faith-based health system with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, said the Chippewa Valley closures are part of a complete exit from the Western Wisconsin region. Prevea Health is also closing all of its Chippewa Valley locations. The majority of closures are expected to be complete on or before April 21, except for Prevea residency clinics, which will close on or by June 30.

The closures impact about 1,082 HSHS and 325 Prevea colleagues and physicians, all of whom will receive support services and career transition assistance, according to the media release.

Outside of Western Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley region, HSHS and Prevea locations are unaffected and will continue operating as usual.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to our colleagues, physicians and volunteers for their countless contributions – all of which have shaped the Hospital Sisters' healing legacy. The mission behind that legacy will guide and sustain us as we move forward." –Damond Boatwright, President and CEO of HSHS

“While HSHS and Prevea intended to create an integrated health delivery model in Western Wisconsin in 2015, our operations in the region have struggled for the past several years due to a mismatch in the supply of and demand for local health care services," said Damond Boatwright, President and CEO of HSHS. "We closely considered all other options and sought strategic alternatives. After an agreement with a suitable partner did not work out, it was determined that exiting the market is the only feasible path forward.”

The decision comes after prolonged operational and financial stress related to lingering impacts of the pandemic, inflation, workforce constraints, local market challenges, and other industry-wide trends, the media release noted.

According to the American Hospital Association, there were 136 rural hospital closures from 2010 to 2021 as well as a record 19 closures in 2020 alone. More than 600 rural hospitals — 30% of all rural hospitals in the country — are at risk of closing, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, because they do not have adequate revenue to cover the cost of the care provided.

“We made this decision with a heavy heart as HSHS Sacred Heart and HSHS St. Joseph’s have been treasured ministries of the Hospital Sisters for more than 140 years,” Boatwright said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our colleagues, physicians, and volunteers for their countless contributions — all of which have shaped the Hospital Sisters’ healing legacy. The mission behind that legacy will guide and sustain us as we move forward.”

View the full media release online. See the FAQ posted related to Chippewa Valley closures, here.