MAKING STRIDES. The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative (CVHC) was, and remains, an ambitious idea. While the ultimate goal of CVHC will be to open its own, new community-owned hospital – which is in progress in Lake Hallie – the co-op is currently operating out of the former St. Joseph's hospital in Chippewa Falls. That facility will offer full services as of this summer. (Submitted photo)

Around this time last year, not quite two years out from the abrupt closures of HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, followed by all of the area’s Prevea clinic locations, the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative (CVHC) had shared several back-to-back announcements worth celebrating. 

Within weeks of each other, milestone announcements rolled out: CVHC’s cancer center opened at its interim facility, the former St. Joseph’s hospital; the Eau Claire Community Foundation awarded the CVHC a $250,000 grant toward purchase of essential equipment and technology; key leadership roles were filled; and the morgue at the former St. Joseph’s was reopened.

This October, the CVHC put an official opening date on full services at its interim Chippewa Falls facility: August 2027.

“Today we can say with confidence: the Chippewa Valley is getting its locally-owned hospital. The financing is in place, the physicians are ready, and the date is set.”

MIKE SANDERS

CEO, CHIPPEWA VALLEY COOPERATIVE HOSPITAL

The CVHC secured full financing to make that full-service offering a reality, through a combination of philanthropic gifts, grants and loans from Frandsen Bank & Trust and Northwestern Bank.

“This approach gets full hospital care back to the Chippewa Valley sooner, on a sound financial foundation, with a clear path to expand,” the CVHC’s media release states.

“Two and a half years ago, this community refused to accept that losing our hospitals was the end of the story,” said Mike Sanders, CEO of Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital. “Today we can say with confidence: the Chippewa Valley is getting its locally-owned hospital. The financing is in place, the physicians are ready, and the date is set.”

Since 2025, the CVHC has brought services online at its interim facility and now aims to have the following offerings open and ready next August:

• A 24/7 Emergency Department staffed by board-certified emergency physicians
• 10 inpatient beds
• Surgery Department
• Full Endoscopy services
• Full diagnostic and imaging services

“Labor and Delivery, Intensive Care, and additional departments will be added through 2027 and 2028,” the release states. “The hospital will create 150 additional jobs at opening, with additional positions being filled as departments are added.”

The destabilization of western Wisconsin's healthcare systems will undoubtedly continue to reveal themselves over time. Numerous providers have since expanded or opened within the Chippewa Valley to fill these gaps, including Chippewa Falls' Aspirus Hospital.

CVHC is the only organization to pursue a cooperative, nonprofit solution.

As described by the cooperative, its forthcoming Lake Hallie hospital – slated to open sometime in 2028 – will feature 48 inpatient beds, a modern surgical unit, 24/7 emergency and intensive care, obstetric and labor and delivery, cardiac services and more.

Any individual ages 18 and up who is a resident within the wider 18-county region can become a CVHC member for a one-time membership fee of $25.

Learn more about and keep up with the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative's efforts at chippewavalleyhealthcooperative.org. More information on memberships can be found here.