Ministry Health Care (Ministry), part of Ascension Wisconsin, and the Medical College of Wisconsin are moving forward with a partnership to recruit specialty care clinicians to Ministry facilities in central Wisconsin.
In mid-December 2015, both organizations announced their intention to explore a potential partnership. This announcement signals the successful outcome of that effort and the establishment of a strong working relationship between the two prominent healthcare organizations.
The Medical College of Wisconsin will recruit and employ specialty care clinicians who will live and practice full time in the metro Wausau, Wisconsin, area to provide care at Ministry hospitals and clinics. Both organizations are committed to a long-term arrangement to provide these important healthcare services to the community.
Last year, Ministry announced plans to expand services in key markets along the Interstate 39 corridor and to invest in its medical group to recruit more clinicians and enhance access to high-quality, compassionate, personalized care as part of a clinically integrated system of care. The key market for Ministry and the Medical College of Wisconsin in this partnership is the Wausau region.
Among the scheduled projects, Ministry is building a state-of-the-art clinic slated to open in early 2017. Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital will begin an expansion of specialty services to offer broader acute care services for patients closer to their homes with the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“The agreement announced today moves Ministry toward our goal of expanding services and making care from the Medical College of Wisconsin more available as part of a clinically integrated care system for residents of central Wisconsin,” said Daniel E. Neufelder, President and CEO, Ministry Health Care. “Our two organizations share a commitment to patient care and local communities. The partnership is key for Ministry’s long-term growth goals in Wausau, and aligns with Ascension’s model of clinical care strategies.”
Under the agreement, all Medical College of Wisconsin employed clinicians in the market will serve through Ministry Medical Group at their individual locations, and the specialty practices will be managed jointly by the two organizations. Both organizations are members of Integrated Health Network (IHN), Wisconsin’s first multi-system, clinically integrated accountable care network, a consortium of independent health systems, hospitals and physicians working together to improve the quality, efficiency and value of healthcare.
“The Medical College of Wisconsin was pleased to make rapid progress to align strategies with Ministry around this Wausau market for the benefit of the community,” said Dr. John R. Raymond Sr., President and CEO of MCW. “Both organizations have a clear vision for this market to bring the reputation of the Medical College of Wisconsin as the work now begins with Ministry.”
“We are very excited about the great partnership we have developed with Ministry Health Care,” said Dr. Dan DeBehnke, CEO of Medical College Physicians Group. “The agreement we are announcing today allows us to move forward with aggressively recruiting clinicians and expanding the presence of the Medical College in central Wisconsin.”
