The Oneida County Board of Adjustment has voted unanimously to block a conditional use permit Marshfield Clinic needs in order to build a 12-bed skilled nursing facility adjacent to its Minocqua clinic.
Marshfield Clinic says it could perform more outpatient surgeries – primarily knee and hip replacement – if patients could recuperate at that proposed skilled nursing facility versus at Ministry Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. Ministry had opposed the permit, saying fewer surgeries there would drain its financial resources.
But Howard Young’s President Sandy Anderson says Tuesday’s vote isn’t about winning the battle, but rather about sharing resources:
“Howard Young is not looking at this as a win-lose proposition because we truly believe that a win-win for the community is when the Marshfield Clinic physicians -- our physician partners -- and the hospital come together, that’s when we can create a win-win for the community. We have probably about eight or nine product lines that we can demonstrate, show, that it’s a win-win. Sleep lab, cardiology, the ED (Emergency Department), those product lines demonstrate that when we work together we’re pretty much unstoppable as (a) high quality, high patient satisfaction organization.”
But Marshfield Clinic board member Dr. Bill Melms says the next meeting may be in a courtroom:
“We are very disappointed in the decision. We will need to sit down with senior leadership now and make a decision about our next course of action. We have the possibility of taking this to circuit court for judgment. We may do that; we haven’t made a decision about that.”
The Clinic has 30 days from March 21 to file a lawsuit.
Update: Wednesday morning, Marshfield Clinic issued this statement:
Statement on Oneida County Board of Adjustment decision
Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) is disappointed with the Oneida County Board of Adjustment’s decision Tuesday, March 8, to uphold the denial for the Clinic’s permit to construct a 12-bed skilled nursing facility in Minocqua. Marshfield Clinic constructed similar comfort and recovery suites attached to its ambulatory surgery centers in Eau Claire, Marshfield and Wausau in 2015.
“These innovative comfort and recovery suites were welcomed by these other communities and provided a great service to the patients who received care,” said Dan Ramsey, chief operating officer, MCHS.
“We’ve had patients from the Northwoods receive care and stay at our suite in Marshfield. We want to provide the same service closer to their home.” The Clinic is evaluating its options as a result of the board’s decision".
