Jan. 2, 2025

It’s official: Sanford Health’s merger with Wisconsin-based Marshfield Clinic Health System has been finalized.

The combined nonprofit integrated health system includes almost 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,500 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies and nationally recognized research institutions. Sanford Health Plan and Security Health Plan will serve more than 425,000 members.

“Today’s historic milestone paves the way for us to advance world-class care across the rural Midwest and accelerate vital investments in the communities we have the privilege of serving,” Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, said in a statement.

“Together, we will reimagine the future of local, patient-centered, nonprofit health care by expanding services, enhancing access and harnessing innovative technologies to improve the health of our communities. We are thrilled to welcome 13,000 new employees from Marshfield Clinic Health System to our Sanford family and look forward to embracing all of the new possibilities that lie ahead.”

The Marshfield Clinic region is a new health services delivery area of Sanford Health that will continue to serve communities in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Marshfield brand will continue to be predominant within the Marshfield Clinic region.

“Our partnership brings together two organizations deeply committed to advancing health care for the people and communities we serve in rural America,” said Dr. Brian Hoerneman, who previously served as interim CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System and now has transitioned to the role of president and CEO of the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health. He is a native of Marshfield, Wisconsin, and a practicing emergency medicine physician.

“I am excited about the opportunities ahead as our teams learn from each other and combine our complementary strengths, cultures and missions. Together, we will build on our shared legacy, creating a future where every person, regardless of ZIP code, has access to the best possible care.”

The combined system will serve patients and communities across the Upper Midwest, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Additionally:

• Sanford Health Plan and Security Health Plan will continue current operations under common management reporting and governance structures. The health plans are led by Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, executive vice president of Sanford Health and president and CEO of Sanford Health Plan. Krista Hoglund serves as regional president and CEO of Security Health Plan and reports to Ibrahim.

• Physicians will continue to have a critical voice in the direction of the combined organization through Sanford Health’s physician governance structure. Like all Sanford Health regions, the new Marshfield Clinic region has a Physician Executive Council, which features Marshfield Clinic physician leaders. Three members of the executive council serve on the system’s Council of Governors: Drs. Jay Vedre, Kent Ray and Matt Thomas.

• Three Marshfield Clinic Health System board members have joined the Sanford Health board of trustees. These new trustees are Dr. George Brown, Thomas Wenzel and Dr. Maureen McCausland.

• A regional board of community leaders is being established to govern the operations and strategy of the Marshfield Clinic region.

“An integration process is underway to create a unified organization,” Sanford Health said. “Patients will continue to receive care from the same trusted providers at the same locations, with no immediate changes. Moving forward together under the Sanford Health parent organization will bring more resources, expertise and innovation to patient care in communities across the rural Midwest.”