More Services, Hours, and Availability Added to Fill Gaps Emerging from HSHS Exit from Western Wisconsin
EAU CLAIRE, WI – February 22, 2024 – OakLeaf Medical Network, the largest independent physician association in Western Wisconsin caring for over 33,000 primary care patients, today announced that network clinics, physicians and healthcare personnel have added services, expanded capacity, and increased appointment availability to accommodate the increased healthcare need created by HSHS’s closure announcement four weeks ago and the accelerated implementation of its exit plan.
OakLeaf Medical Network has updated its response plan with additional capacity here.
Each of OakLeaf Medical Network’s 26 clinics have increased their capacity and have additional plans to expand to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the community.
“OakLeaf Medical Network’s over 320 providers and healthcare professionals have been serving the Chippewa Valley and great Western Wisconsin region for 30 years, providing unprecedented access to the highest quality of medical care to tens of thousands of patients,” said Dr, Kyle Dettbarn, chair, OakLeaf Medical Network Board. “We have consistently flexed and grown since we started in 1994 to serve the growing and changing needs of our patients and are doing everything in our control to ensure the stabilization of healthcare services in our community.”
OakLeaf Medical Network is recognized for its high-quality coordinated care for its patients. In fact, OLMN primary care providers began managing Fee for Service Medicare patients through the REACH Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model in January of 2024. REACH stands for Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) and physicians are selected to participate in this direct, global payment model with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) based on their ability to deliver high-quality, coordinated care to their patients, improve health outcomes, and manage costs. We continue to flex and grow to meet the unique needs of every patient we serve.
Expanded services include:
- Added Primary Care healthcare capacity from the 30 Primary Care providers and 6 Pediatricians in the network at OakLeaf Clinics, Confluence Health, and Sunrise Family Medicine. The Network has already accepted over 3,000 new primary care patients since the HSHS announcement and is expanding to meet increased need in the region.
- OakLeaf Medical Network Obstetrics physicians anticipate 900 births from their patients in 2024. While Marshfield Medical Center’s expanded labor and delivery capacity will be able to accommodate some of these births, OLMN OB physicians are planning for additional hospital coverage in the region so that their patients can deliver their children with their doctor present at the time of birth. All OakLeaf Medical Network OB physicians have admitting privileges at area hospitals and are committed to continuing care for all their patients at these facilities.
- Expanded Urgent Care and Lab hours at the Eau Claire Medical Clinic Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls locations. Effective March 4th: Monday – Thursday 7am – 6pm
- Increased Outpatient Psychiatry/Behavioral Health In addition to actively recruiting mental health professionals and psychiatrists, network member Nystrom & Associates has established a separate phone line for patients impacted by HSHS/Prevea closures. Call 715-506-5535 or fill out the online form here.
- Urology: Increased Pelvic Health Services with additional healthcare professionals and physical therapy services at network clinic Western Wisconsin Urology
About OakLeaf Medical Network
OakLeaf Medical Network, comprised exclusively of independent clinics, is the largest independent physician association in Western Wisconsin, with over 300 medical providers (125 physicians) with 40 specialties working across 26 clinics in 15 counties. Over 33,500 primary care patients are served by OakLeaf Medical Network providers. Originally founded in 1994 by a local group of physicians committed to preserving the unique values of independent medical practices including personal care, continuity of care, and easier access to care, as a “clinic without walls,” the organization has evolved and grown over time.
Today the clinics under the OakLeaf Medical Network include: OakLeaf Clinics (founded in 2015) with its six divisions, Buffalo River Clinic, Chippewa Valley Anesthesia Associates, Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic, Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Valley Neurosciences, Chippewa Valley Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Confluence Healthcare, DeFatta ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery, Diagnostic Radiology Associates, Eau Claire G.I. Associates, Evergreen Surgical, Foot and Ankle Clinic, Hesse Foot & Ankle Clinic, Interventional Pain Specialists of Wisconsin, Medical X-Ray Consultants, Merrick Plastic & Hand Surgery, Northwest Radiation Oncology Associates, Nystrom & Associates, Pathology, SC, Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire, Sunrise Family Care Clinic, Thomas Peller, MD, Western Wisconsin Urology, Winding Rivers Counseling, and Wisconsin Brain & Spine Center.
OakLeaf Medical Network clinics are in the following counties: Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn.
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