Chippewa Falls Hospital Could Partially Reopen by August

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis (WCFW) – Chippewa Falls residents could get some relief from the healthcare access crisis as plans to partially reopen St. Joseph’s Hospital develop.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital closed over a year ago, leaving residents without critical access to healthcare. Currently, Chippewa Falls residents who need emergency medical attention have to travel 10 miles down the road to Eau Claire. Over the last year, the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative was created to bring a new hospital to the area.

Earlier this year, the cooperative entered into an agreement with HSHS to purchase the closed Chippewa Falls facility. After conducting their due diligence on the site, the group decided that reopening St. Joseph’s Hospital would provide relief earlier than their plans for a new independent, community hospital in Lake Hallie.

Officials now say they can partially reopen the hospital by August. Under the new plan, the facility would only offer some clinical services at first. As long as there are no disruptions, the hospital could offer the same full service as it did prior to its closure by the end of the year.

The plan for reopening St. Joseph’s Hospital isn’t the only one that is ahead of schedule. Aspirus Health received approval to build a new hospital in Chippewa Falls earlier this year. At the time, officials said the new hospital could be open in as little as 18 months. In March, they announced the new hospital could open even earlier as the company explored innovative construction methods that would significantly shorten the project’s timeline.