Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health and Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System have signed an integration agreement to form a 25-hospital regional health system in four states.
Health systems was announced the July 27 integration agreement. In October 2022 the systems said they were in merger talks and had signed a memorandum of cooperation.
“Discussions over the past few months have made it clear that this is an incredible opportunity to improve both health systems, secure our future, and take patient care and services to an even higher level,” said Susan Turney, MD, who previously announced plans to step down as CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System in September 2023.
Essentia CEO David Herman, MD, will serve as CEO of the combined entity. Dr. Herman described both systems as “physician-led organizations with an unwavering commitment to the health of rural communities.”
Once combined, Essentia and Marshfield Clinic will have a presence in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota with 3,800 providers and 150 care sites, including 25 hospitals. Fourteen of those hospitals are from Essentia and 11 from Marshfield Clinic.
Essentia and Marshfield Clinic plan to formally combine by the end of 2023, pending regulatory approval.
