Aspirus

Aspirus MedEvac has announced they will provide ambulance and emergency medical services (EMS) coverage in Watersmeet, Michigan beginning Saturday, March 5 when residents call 911 and need patient transport.

Ambulance services for Watersmeet previously were provided by the Conover EMS.

Due to a contract dispute concerning an operating deficit, Watersmeet officials declined to renew the contract with Conover, effectively ending the service as of March 5.

Aspirus Wausau Hospital has again been recognized as one of the Top 50 cardiovascular hospitals in the country by Truven Health Analytics,(tm) a leading health care data tracker.

This achievement marks the ninth time Aspirus has been recognized with this honor. No other hospital in Wisconsin has been named a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital as many times. Dr. German Larrain is medical director of Aspirus Heart & Vascular. He says Truven looks at specific areas of performance...

Aspirus At Home has been named among the top quarter of  home health agencies in the U.S.

The agency formerly was known at Aspirus VNA Home Health. An organization called HomeCare Elite ranks the home health agencies and it marks the seventh time Aspirus has been in the top 25 percentile of providers in the nation.

Spokesperson JoAnn Borchardt says they provide skilled home nursing care for a variety of ages and needs. She sees this type of care will be more common in the future...

Aspirus and Marshfield Clinic Health System leaders have signed a non-binding letter of intent to pursue joint efforts across their service areas.

Officials point out this is not a merger or acquisition. Aspirus and Marshfield Clinic will continue to be independent organizations with separate boards, cultures and brands.

One of the points being explored is for Asprirus to allow Marshfield Clinic a minority interest in Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.

Residents in Ontanagon County Michigan will soon have more access to medical transport.  Aspirus MedEvac is establishing a paramedic ambulance service near Ontanagon Hospital. 

SONCO Ambulance will continue to serve the area. 

But as Aspirus EMS and MedEvac Operations Manager Robert Kirkley explains, the new paramedic services offer a higher level of care when the situation calls for it.

Rhinelander School District has landed two sizable grants to help pay for a new athletics trainer position at the high school. 

Ministry Medical Group and the Aspirus Clinic have each donated $15,000 to the school district’s athletic program. 

Athletics Trainer is a role that Rhinelander native Eric Prom has been filling for a few years now, but until now he’s been employed by Marshfield Clinic.  Now he’ll be an employee of the school district.              

Aspirus Wausau Hospital has a new president, and it's the same person currently filling the position.

Darrell Lentz has been interim hospital president since last November. Prior to that, he was Aspirus Vice-President of Finance. Aspirus' Chief Executive Officer is Matt Heywood. Former CEO and President Duane Erwin retired last June.

A native of Maine, Lentz has been in health care and finance for 16 years.

NORTHSTAR Health System and Aspirus Health System have announced an affiliation agreement.

Based in Iron River, Michigan NORTHSTAR includes a 25-bed critical access hospital with clinics in Iron River, Marenisco and Crystal Falls. They also have home health and hospice services. NORTHSTAR has 370 employees. Aspirus is based in Wausau. The transaction is expected to be done in late January.

Connie Koutouzos, NORTHSTAR Chief Executive Officer says the juncture will help them do more...

This week National Public Radio has had stories about the digitalization of medical records. Supporters say patients get better service, and it's easier for doctors, but it does raise security concerns.

At Aspirus in Wausau Chief Information Officer Todd Richardson says in the former paper process it was more difficult to get records to the right place at the right time...