Marshfield Clinic completes merger with South Dakota-based Sanford Health

Marshfield Clinic Health System has joined the largest rural health system in the United States.

The central Wisconsin-based health clinic announced the completion of its merger with Sanford Health on Thursday, nearly six months after merging. first reported.

Marshfield Clinic will become a region of Sanford Health, according to a press releaseand the Marshfield brand “will continue to be predominant” at locations across the region. Sanford is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has locations throughout Dakota, as well as Iowa, Minnesota and other states.

A Marshfield Clinic spokesperson declined WPR’s request for an interview.

Dr. Brian Hoerneman, former interim CEO of Marshfield Clinic and new regional president and CEO, said in a press release that the merger “brings together two organizations deeply committed to advancing health care” in rural areas of ‘America.

“I am excited about the opportunities ahead as our teams learn from each other and combine our complementary strengths, cultures and missions,” Hoerneman said in the release.

According to the press release, Marshfield Clinic patients will continue to receive care from the same providers with no immediate changes.

Marshfield Clinic had already attempted to merge with Duluth-based Essentia Health before the partnership. fell through a year ago.

The health system based in central Wisconsin around 360 employees laid off in January 2024. The system extended its delivery and emergency services in the Eau Claire area last spring in response to the sudden closure of two nearby hospitals.

City of Marshfield Mayor Lois TeStrake said she supports Marshfield Clinic merging with Sanford Health. She believes the move will ensure the health system continues to operate in a challenging health care landscape.

“We’re going to keep what we have, but they’re just going to help us make it better,” TeStrake said.

TeStrake, which has shared publicly Based on her experience treating pancreatic cancer at the Marshfield Clinic, the health system is an important resource in her community. She said she is not concerned about transferring ownership out of state, noting that this model is not uncommon in health systems.

Wisconsin has seen a number of health system mergers in recent years, following a national trend of rapid consolidation over the past decade. Researchers discovered hospital mergers tend to increase health care priceswhile having a negligible effect on patient care.