OakLeaf Medical Network Provides Update on Healthcare Plans

OakLeaf Medical Network representatives have shared an update on their plans to address healthcare concerns amid the HSHS and Prevea closures.

According to a WEAU report, OakLeaf Medical Network is trying to take as many patients as they can right now in an effort to minimize the impact of the HSHS and Prevea closures. The organization has also contacted HSHS in an effort to open the door to turning Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls into community hospitals.

On the topic of the potential for community hospitals, Chair of the OakLeaf Medical Network Board Kyle Dettbarn said “Initially, we got some very simple questions asked through lawyers but at no point did they reach out or give us any indication that they were going to sit at the table and try to come up with a short-term and long-term solution to this.”

Both of the hospitals are currently scheduled to close by late April. In the wake of the announcement, a number of other medical organizations made plans to expand their coverage to help minimize the impact of the closures on patients and employees of HSHS and Prevea. OakLeaf Medical Network officials say they’re focused on maintaining their cancer center, addressing labor and delivery service shortages, and expanding access to their cardiac care.

Local community leaders in Eau Claire have also joined to form the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative, which seeks to find solutions to fill in the healthcare gaps created by the closures.