Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative Finalizes Hospital Purchase

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis (WCFW) – The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative finalized the purchase of the former HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital facility in Chippewa Falls this week.

The organization announced the finalized purchase in a press release on Tuesday. The cooperative entered into a purchase agreement for the site with HSHS earlier this year, and spent months conducting their due diligence before deciding it was financially feasible to reopen the facility. They will rename the facility the Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital and will begin offering some services as soon as this Fall.

According to Robert Krause, the Chair of the Cooperative’s Board of Directors, the organization was not able to obtain the required licensing and certifications to fully reopen the hospital this year. The cooperative expects the hospital to be fully operational again by next Summer.

The services offered this year will include a Cancer and Infusion Center, an Advanced Wound Care Center, and Specialty Care Services. The cooperative is also in discussions with Chippewa County about potentially reopening the morgue that was closed during the abrupt HSHS departure.

When fully operational next year, the facility will include a 30 bed hospital with five intensive care unit beds, a 24 hour emergency department, diagnostic services, and labor and delivery services. It will employ over 300 healthcare professionals, including nearly 100 physicians.

The new Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital will serve as a critical stopgap in the area as the organization pursues the development of a new independent community hospital in Lake Hallie. Officials currently expect that facility to open in 2028. Plans for a new Aspirus Health Hospital in Chippewa Falls are also ahead of schedule.