Rice Lake Marshfield Clinic Temporarily Pauses Labor Services

The Rice Lake Marshfield Medical Center has announced it will temporarily pause its labor and delivery services.

According to a press release, the healthcare organization is struggling with staffing shortages in support services, making it difficult to provide patients with the care they need. Officials say the pause is expected to last between 30 and 60 days.

In the interim, patients in Rice Lake will have their labor and delivery care transitioned to Marshfield Medical Center’s Eau Claire clinic. The Rice Lake clinic will continue to offer prenatal and postpartum care during the pause.

The temporary pause in service is the latest in a long list of healthcare issues currently facing the Chippewa Valley. In addition to staffing concerns that have caused issues across the midwest region, the Chippewa Valley healthcare field is still reeling from the loss of all HSHS and Prevea facilities in the area.

On the same day as the pause announcement, State Senator Jeff Smith and State Representative Jodi Emerson held a press conference to urge the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee to release $15 million in emergency funding for the healthcare industry. The release of the funds has been stalled as lawmakers say Governor Tony Evers’ line item vetoes made the funding too flexible.

Smith and Emerson made note of the Rice Lake Marshfield Clinic pause, arguing it shows the ripple effects the closures of HSHS and Prevea have had on the region. Marshfield Clinic has been one of many medical organizations that have explored expanding their footprint in the area.