Eau Claire Community Foundation Awards Grant for St. Joseph’s

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WCFW) – The Eau Claire Community Foundation announced a $250,000 grant award to the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative for St. Joseph’s Hospital.

According to a press release on Monday, the funding will go towards the purchase of essential equipment and technology at the Chippewa Falls facility. Organization officials say the grant funding will help ensure the newly reopened hospital is equipped with the modern tools and technology it needs to provide essential healthcare for area residents.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative purchased the site over the summer, intending to temporarily reopen it as plans for a new independent, community hospital in Lake Hallie develop. Last week, the organization announced the opening of its new cancer center at the site.

Chippewa Falls residents in particular have struggled with inadequate access to healthcare services following the HSHS closures. While Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire also closed about a year and a half ago, residents still have access to other hospital facilities. In Chippewa Falls, the loss of St. Joseph’s Hospital meant the loss of the only hospital in the city.

In addition to the new cancer center, Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative officials are planning to launch additional services at the St. Joseph’s site over the next year. They say the facility will soon offer full hospital services for area residents, including inpatient care, emergency and surgical services, and labor and delivery services.

Aspirus Health also broke ground on a new hospital in Chippewa Falls earlier this year. Organization officials say that facility could begin providing services as soon as September.