2006 System Review
Marshfield Clinic news: The Year in Review
The following are summaries of the top Marshfield Clinic news stories for fiscal year 2006.
October 2005
Marshfield Clinic Honors Obey with Heritage Foundation Award
Seventh District Wisconsin Congressman David R. Obey was honored as the eighth recipient of the Marshfield Clinic Heritage Foundation Award October 27. The award, established in 1997, honors people who have made significant contributions to the community in government, civic leadership, education, medicine, law or business.
Marshfield Clinic President Frederic P. Wesbrook, M.D., presented the award, describing Obey as a fair man of principles and hard work, a man of his word and someone who has made significant contributions to making others’ lives better.
October 2005
Security Health Plan in top rankings for best health plans by NCQA, U.S. News & World Report
Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., has been named the nation’s 13th best commercial health plan and seventh best Medicare plan, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The recognition, announced October 3, was made through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)® in partnership with U.S. News & World Report. NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America’s health care. Because it was among the top 25 commercial and Medicare plans, Security Health Plan was listed in the print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
November 2005
Chippewa Dental Center opens; Pediatric dentist first in Chippewa County
Amanda Spitz, D.D.S., has joined Marshfield Clinic Chippewa Dental Center and is the only pediatric dentist in Chippewa County. The need for pediatric dentists is great, and Dr. Spitz could have established her practice virtually anywhere.
“I want to help kids and I believe in Marshfield Clinic’s philosophy of providing care to anyone who needs it,” said Dr. Spitz. “Unfortunately, 80 percent of cavities in children will occur in just 20 percent of the population. Prevention in the early years is so important. It gives children a good start to lifelong oral health.”
Dr. Spitz was the first dentist at the newly established Marshfield Clinic Chippewa Dental Center and the first pediatric dentist in the Clinic system.
December 2005
Clinic announces operational changes
In a move sparked by continued growth and the anticipation of future expansion, Marshfield Clinic is realigning the operational structure of its Western and Northwestern divisions.
The Clinic split its Western Division into two separate operational divisions with the Eau Claire, Menomonie, Oakwood and Riverview centers (both Eau Claire), and Regional Cancer Center (Eau Claire) remaining in the Western Division. Clinic centers in Cadott, Chippewa Falls, Cornell, Ladysmith, Chetek, Owen, Radisson, Rice Lake and Spooner will be in the Northwest Division.
The realignment includes announcement of two new leadership positions. Western Division Medical Director Karl J. Ulrich, M.D., will oversee the Northwest Division, while Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Center Obstetrician/Gynecologist Greg A. Burnett, M.D., has been appointed Western Division medical director. Also joining the administrative team is Daniel DeGroot, named division administrator for the Western and Northwest Divisions.
January 2006
Board elects new president, officers, Executive Committee members
Karl J. Ulrich, M.D., a division medical director and psychiatrist, was elected president of Marshfield Clinic January 10. Dr. Ulrich, the 19th physician to serve in this post, replaced Internal Medicine Specialist Frederic P. Wesbrook, M.D., who completed his third term as president.
Marshfield Center Oncologist/Hematologist Douglas J. Reding, M.D., former Clinic treasurer, was elected vice president. Marshfield Center Orthopaedic Surgeon David J. Simenstad, M.D., will serve the second year of a two-year term as treasurer because of Dr. Reding’s new appointment.
Physicians elected to serve two-year terms on the Executive Committee include Marshfield Center Pediatric Gastroenterologist Janice Heikenen, M.D.; and Wausau Center Pediatrician Edward H. Groshan, Jr., M.D. They replace Wausau Center Internal Medicine Specialist Ivan B. Schaller, M.D., and Marshfield Center Otolaryngologist Timothy Boyle, M.D.
Eau Claire Center General & Thoracic Surgeon Daniel G. Cavanaugh, M.D., was re-elected to the Committee.
Other physicians continuing to serve on the Executive Committee are Marshfield Center Radiologist Timothy L. Swan, M.D., corporate secretary; Riverview Center Family Practitioner Thomas D. Sandager, M.D., Eau Claire; and Indianhead Center Obstetrician/Gynecologist Gary R. Degerman, M.D., Rice Lake.
February 2006
Marshfield Clinic entry into HMO Research Network creates significant opportunities
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation (MCRF) has become the 14th member of the HMO Research Network and is the first member within a rural system of care.
“I anticipate great benefits for Marshfield Clinic and our patients, but I also believe we have much to offer the Network. We were invited to join because of our strong record as a research-based institution and added diversity we bring to the Network because of our rural focus in health care and research,” said Robert Greenlee, Ph.D., M.P.H., an associate research scientist with MCRF’s Epidemiology Research Center, a department of MCRF. He and MCRF Director Humberto Vidaillet, M.D., represent Marshfield Clinic on the Network’s governing board.
“We want to expand collaborative research opportunities, study important research questions that will improve the health of our population and find ways to optimize the delivery of health care. Our membership is a key step in that process,” Dr. Greenlee said.
Medications Manager hits millionth-prescription milestone
When Marshfield Clinic Wisconsin Rapids Family Practitioner Joseph J. Arias, M.D., wrote a prescription for levothyroxine sodium January 16, confetti did not fall from his exam room ceiling. But in prescribing that drug, Dr. Arias helped Marshfield Clinic’s Medications Manager electronic prescription software program reach the one-million-prescription milestone.
The milestone is worth celebrating because of the potential this software has to improve patient care. Not only does Medications Manager help ensure patients receive the right prescriptions in the right doses, the software identifies potential interactions with other medications patients take.
March 2006
Researcher named to EPA Science Advisory Board
Mark Borchardt, Ph.D., has been appointed to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board. The three-year appointment calls for Dr. Borchardt to provide independent expert advice on technical issues underlying EPA policies and decision making. As a part of his appointment, Dr. Borchardt will serve on the Drinking Water Committee and Homeland Security Advisory Committee.
Dr. Borchardt is director of the Public Health Microbiology Laboratory at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation’s National Farm Medicine Center. His research focuses on waterborne pathogen detection methods; molecular epidemiology; infectious diarrhea in children as related to rural drinking water and sanitation; antibiotic usage and bacterial resistance; and human gastrointestinal viruses in ground water.
April 2006
NFMC observes 25th anniversary
The National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC) has been addressing evolving issues regarding human health and safety for rural and agricultural work, life and environments for the past 25 years and celebrated its silver anniversary in April. Established in 1981, the NFMC was created in response to occupational health problems seen in farm patients receiving health care at Marshfield Clinic. It is a department located within the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.
At the anniversary celebration, keynote speaker Orion Samuelson, WGN Radio, Chicago, delivered comments by videotape. Samuelson, a National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, is considered the best-known agricultural broadcaster in the United States. A hardbound history of NFMC, written by Marshfield Clinic Hematologist/ Oncologist Joseph Mazza, M.D., was introduced at the program. Sales of the book supported the Emanuel Chair for Agricultural Research.
May 2006
Ground broken for Mercer, Eagle River centers
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for new 5,000-square-foot buildings for Marshfield Clinic Mercer Center May 16 and Marshfield Clinic Eagle River Center June 5.
The new Mercer Center will be on Highway 51, one mile south of the current center. The Eagle River Center will be relocated to 500 Commerce Loop in the Tamarack Business Park on the corner of Tamarack Street and Loon Lake Road. Nils A. Olson, D.O.,
and Nurse Practitioner Peggy Bronsberg practice at the Mercer Center. The new structure will provide upgraded facilities and technology, laboratory, X-ray, urgent care and physical therapy.
Marshfield Clinic Eagle River Center joined the Marshfield Clinic system in 1998. James Schumaker, M.D., and health care specialists from Marshfield Clinic Lakeland Center, Minocqua, provide patient care. Services at the Eagle River Center include family practice; complementary and alternative medicine; orthopaedic surgery; general surgery; urology; pediatrics; obstetrics and gynecology; and ophthalmology.
Construction on both buildings was expected to be completed in late 2006.
TeleHealth approved for Medical Assistance reimbursement
Marshfield Clinic TeleHealth has paved the way for reimbursement of telemedicine services through Medical Assistance. The opportunity creates a means for a group of patients, often in the greatest need for specialty services, to receive them close to home, according to Nina Antoniotti, Ph.D., TeleHealth program manager. “Having Medical Assistance reimbursement for services takes away some burden on these patients and provides greater access to quality care,” she said.
Marshfield TeleHealth brings specialty health care services to 29 remote areas of northern, central and western Wisconsin by using telecommunications and information technology.
Until approval was given from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Medicaid agency to reimburse services for patients delivered via TeleHealth, patients receiving Medical Assistance would have had to pay for Telehealth services out of their own pockets, travel to a Clinic center for in-person care or not receive needed medical services.
June 2006
Construction begins on new Rice Lake Center
Marshfield Clinic physicians and employees really did see the dirt fly in Rice Lake as ground was officially broken Thursday, June 22, on the site of the Marshfield Clinic Rice Lake Center.
Services and amenities in the new 142,000-square-foot facility will include a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center; an imaging center; radiation oncology; community rooms for educational and health-related purposes; kiosks with computer stations allowing patients to access Marshfield Clinic and other legitimate Internet health information; and a joint community effort for a healing garden for cancer patients.
Construction began in late June, and the $43.5 million building is expected to be completed in February 2008.
July 2006
National award recognizes Clinic’s achievements in medical informatics
Marshfield Clinic was the recipient of the 2006 Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS) Award, recognizing excellence and outstanding achievement in applied medical informatics.
Marshfield Clinic is a national pioneer in developing electronic medical records and has addressed the challenge of applied medical informatics with implemention of a tablet PC solution. Estimates are that the Clinic system saves $2 million annually in deploying tablet PCs to each physician, reducing the number of computers required in exam rooms and offices. Its sophisticated electronic medical records system may save $9 million annually in reduced costs related to paper medical charts.
August 2006
Eau Claire Center expands
Marshfield Clinic broke ground August 8 on a 55,000-square-foot expansion to its Eau Claire Center at 2116 Craig Road.
The addition will house a 20,500-square-foot ambulatory surgery center, 11,500-square-foot state-of-the-art imaging center and 2,200-square-foot plastic surgery department. It will also include unfinished space for future development. Construction of the $25 million addition began August 9 with completion anticipated by fall 2007.
