County OKs Marshfield Clinic's $35M hospital plan after Ascension Health conflict

Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic received approval from the Oneida County (Wis.) board of adjustment to build a 12-bed hospital in Minocqua, Wis., after contention from St. Louis, Mo.-based Ascension Health, according to a WAOW report.

Ascension owns Howard Young Medical Clinic in Woodruff, Wis., which is approximately two minutes away from Marshfield's proposed Minocqua hospital. Ascension argued a second hospital would threaten the viability of Howard Young. If Howard Young closed, Minocqua could lose its birthing and emergency room services, according to a Lakeland Times report.

However, Marshfield's proposed full-service hospital would provide a 24/7 emergency room and labor and delivery rooms. Additionally, Marshfield argued it will increase locally run medical services.

The board of adjustment's approval reversed a previous decision by the Oneida County planning and development committee to deny Marshfield's building permit for the $35 million hospital. The board of adjustment committee reasoned a hospital in a business district is not detrimental to Minocqua and Marshfield Clinic should be allowed to compete for health business, said Karl Jennrich, zoning director for Oneida County.

Marshfield Clinic Health System has over 50 Wisconsin locations with physicians in 86 specialties and subspecialties.

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