OakLeaf Medical Network, an independent physician group based in Eau Claire, Wis., intends to purchase Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals and its associated Prevea Medical Group to prevent the closure of the facilities.
Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System announced its intent to close its Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls and all physician offices and health centers it operates in Western Wisconsin with multispecialty group Prevea Health by April 21 due to financial and workforce challenges.
OakLeaf said it reached out to HSHS in hopes of entering negotiations to purchase the hospital properties scheduled to close with the intent of creating an independent community hospital, according to a Feb. 1 news release from the group.
In the short term, OakLeaf said its physicians are participating in community task forces and extending their hours to ensure patients have access to care.
OakLeaf Medical Network is the largest independent physician association in Western Wisconsin with more than 300 medical providers across 26 clinics.