Elected Officials in Western Wisconsin Still Coming to Terms With Hospital Closures

Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Raymond Neupert, Wisconsin Radio Network) Elected officials in western Wisconsin are still coming to terms with the departure of a major health care employer.

According to Raymond Neupert with the Wisconsin Radio Network, State Senator Jeff Smith says of particular concern are mental health services offered at Sacred Heart in Eau Claire, “They’ve got a grant to expand mental health services, and now people are really concerned that that’s not going to happen and what is going to happen with that. So it just hits all sorts of places that are really a concern.”

HSHS Health System announced last week it will close its hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, and Prevea clinics in the Chippewa Valley. More than 1200 HSHS and Prevea employees will be impacted by the closures, most of which will be completed by mid-April.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.