HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE CLOSING IN PRICE COUNTY

[My Northern Wisconsin]

   

Home health and hospice services, located in Phillips and offered by the Marshfield Clinic Health System, will cease at the end of February 2024.

A staff member, who wished not to be identified, explained the amount of employees affected and the sadness felt about the closure, stating, "There are seven nurses; one is the head office nurse and supervisor, and one is intake.  There are three CNAs and two social workers, of which one is also the hospice coordinator.  There is a physical therapist, an administrative assistant, a billing specialist, and a volunteer coordinator.  We also have several dedicated volunteers.  Most everyone works less then 40 hours per week.  Everyone loves their job and the mission of helping those in need.  We have an awesome crew of caring staff.  We will all be slowly furloughed as we transfer our patients to other services within a few weeks.  Some are already furloughed.  We will all need to seek some other employment.  Our hearts are heavy with sadness."

An earlier statement from Marshfield Clinic Health System stated that 3% of employees who would be losing their jobs in the health care system and that those patients work in leadership roles and in departments that mostly do not see patients.  However, the hospice does see patients.  We asked John Gardner, Marshfield Clinic Health System's director of communications, how it was decided that those who are in the last stages of life in a rural area should have their services cut.

He responded, "This was certainly a difficult decision.  We’ve provided care and resources in Price County for the past several decades and consider ourselves proud members of the community.  As we look for ways to overcome the challenges of delivering care in rural Wisconsin, we need to use our resources in the most efficient and effective manner.  That includes making decisions that affect certain services, so we can transition those resources to areas that can benefit the greatest number of patients and meet their evolving care needs.  We will continue to provide primary, specialty, and hospital care throughout the region."

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While talking about the challenges of delivering care to rural Wisconsin, John mentioned the closures announced on Monday by Prevea Health and Hospital Sisters Health SYSTEM (HSHS) in western Wisconsin.  The Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls will close by April 21, 2024, affecting 1,082 HSHS and 325 Prevea employees.  A press release stated those closures were largely due to "operation and financial stress" due to inflation, lingering impacts of the pandemic, workforce constraints, market challenges, and other trends affecting the healthcare industry.

Regarding the home health and hospice closure with the Marshfield Clinic Health System, John added, "We are committed to supporting our patients and employees as we transition our home health and hospice resources.  We continue to work with patients to ensure they receive the care they deserve.  And we have been in communications with other care providers in the region to ensure future patients have the information they need to receive this important care at that stage in their lives."

Some community members are confused about the closures of home health and hospice and urgent care services since the health system received a $20 million grant in support of healthcare access in Park Falls.

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The funding came from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program.  In a March 9, 2022 press release, Governor Evers said the money would "support facility upgrades and modernization at the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls, which is a critical access hospital of Marshfield Clinic Health System, to expand access to quality healthcare for rural communities that have been historically underserved."

The governor further stated, "This healthcare facility bridges an important gap in healthcare access in the Park Falls community, and they would not be able to continue to provide care without some critically needed upgrades and modernization.  This investment will allow them to keep providing high-quality care in the community, and I am glad to support this project today and to continue supporting the health and well-being of folks in the Park Falls area.”

Given the hospital was built in 1966, Governor Evers stated the funds would "support substantial and transformational upgrades to modernize the facility and enhance the quality of care for patients."  He added that "the next closest medical facility is more than an hour away, and these funds will allow the facility to stay open to continue to serve the community and bridge this gap, while keeping jobs in the area, and helping to attract and retain new medical professionals."

My Price County has reached out to Governor Evers with questions about this funding and these closures, and we will update this article if we receive a response.

Read the related story about the closure of urgent care.

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