Marshfield Clinic, Essentia Health Sign Integration Agreement

Marshfield Clinic

MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — Marshfield Clinic and Essentia Health have announced that the two entities have taken the next step in their potential merger.

“We are both physician-led organizations with an unwavering commitment to the health of rural communities,” said Essentia Health CEO Dr. David Herman in a press release, who will serve as chief executive officer of a new parent company. “Our complementary capabilities will allow us to learn and share with one another to better achieve our collective mission.”

“Discussions the past few months have made it clear that this is an incredible opportunity to enhance both health systems, solidify our futures, and take patient care and services to an even higher level,” said Dr. Susan Turney, who previously announced plans to step down as Marshfield Clinic Health System CEO this fall. “It represents an opportunity to expand access to care, diversify the services we provide and deepen our community-based work.”

“While work remains to finalize our new relationship, this is another positive step in our journey to define the future of health care, and to fundamentally transform rural health care in America,” said Marshfield Clinic CEO Dr. Susan Turney in a press release.

Dr. Turney has previously announced her intention to step down as CEO of Marshfield Clinic by this fall, staying on to guide the system through the merger.

“Each time I meet with our Marshfield colleagues, I am excited for our future together and what we can build and sustain to better serve our patients, communities and colleagues,” Dr. Herman said. “Times are undeniably challenging for rural health care, yet I am certain we can meet those challenges more successfully together than we can separately.”

RELATED: Marshfield Clinic Considers Merger

The two regional systems previously announced that they had entered into a memorandum of understanding in October 2022. Should the two hospital systems finalize the merger, they would cover more than two million people from North Dakota to the upper peninsula of Michigan with more than 150 sites of care including 25 hospitals. The network would feature more than 3,500 providers.