Several major health systems across Wisconsin and Michigan have closed outpatient clinics and are rescheduling elective procedures as a winter storm system moves through the region.
A snowstorm that began March 15 brought blizzard-like conditions to much of the Upper Midwest. Some areas of Wisconsin and Michigan have already seen 2 feet of snow. Heavy winds and blowing snow are expected to make travel difficult through March 16, according to the National Weather Service. As the storm system moves east, it is also expected to trigger severe thunderstorms across much of the eastern U.S. late March 16, with the highest risk in the interior Mid-Atlantic.
In response to the weather conditions, some health systems in the Midwest are only operating essential services March 16. Here’s a look at the systems closing outpatient clinics, delaying opening hours or rescheduling elective procedures:
- All outpatient clinics and services at UP Health System-Marquette (Mich.) are closed. Elective procedures are also being rescheduled, though the hospital remains open and is operating as normal.
- SSM Health-Madison (Wis.) closed primary care and specialty care clinics through March 16. Some urgent care and express care locations are also closed. All surgery care centers, hospitals and emergency departments in the region remain fully operational. SSM Health-Madison is part of St. Louis-based SSM Health.
- Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health is contacting affected patients to reschedule some “elective or non-urgent procedures.” All Aspirus hospitals remain operational. Eleven of the system’s outpatient clinics in affected regions are closed for the day.
- OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, Mich., closed all physician offices March 16. Its outpatient lab, rehabilitation clinic and cancer clinic are also closed. THe hospital’s walk-in clinic and emergency department remain open.
- Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System is rescheduling elective surgeries scheduled for the morning of March 16 at Marshfield Medical Center and Marshfield Medical Center—Neillsville. The health system plans to delay the opening of some medical offices until noon. It is also switching some in-person behavioral health appointments to virtual.
- Madison, Wis.-based UW Health rescheduled morning appointments or moved them to telehealth visits at several outpatient clinics. The health system said it expects to open its oncology and infusion services clinics at noon.
