ThedaCare Announces Decision On Facilities Plan

ThedaCare announced today it will invest in enhancing the Fox Cities hospitals rather than develop a single-site hospital. In addition, ThedaCare will focus on expanding access and convenience of care throughout the nine counties it serves.

“After much study, we have determined to focus on improving our existing Fox Cities facilities at their current locations,” said Imran Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of ThedaCare (pictured). “We listened, we evaluated, and we now have a clear path forward. That path is to enhance what we have — including the Appleton and Neenah hospitals.”

The ThedaCare Board of Trustees yesterday, Oct. 24, agreed with executive leaders about the potential single-site hospital that had been explored the past 18 months. “Our communities are interested in having the best, most convenient care,” said Board Chair Terry Timm, chief administrative officer at Thrivent Financial. “This decision allows us to do just that.”

“We confidently make this decision, in partnership with our board, because of the tireless evaluation by our staff with input from our friends, neighbors, community leaders and patients,” Dr. Andrabi said. “We are most appreciative of the time invested.”

ThedaCare will begin existing facility improvement planning immediately and expanding convenient care efforts throughout the nine counties it serves. These efforts continue the organization’s commitment to providing new and enhanced ways for patients to receive convenient, high-quality care close to home while working to also lower total cost of care.

“I would like to personally thank everyone involved. I am energized by what lies ahead for the future of ThedaCare — and the future of care for our region,” Dr. Andrabi added.

In February 2016, the ThedaCare Board of Trustees announced a long-term exploration of facilities throughout the ThedaCare nine-county service area, and their ability to meet the communities’ expectations for outstanding health care into the future. This included the possibility of bringing together ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah into one regional health care destination.

For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,700 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 32 clinics in nine counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a nonprofit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, and stroke, orthopedic and cardiac programs, as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.