Marshfield Medical Center rebrands under Sanford partnership, outlines expansion and hiring needs

By David Ballerstein - Marshfield Now!

​Marshfield Medical Center has been officially rebranded as Marshfield Clinic Sanford Health, a visible change that leaders say reflects the organization’s merger with Sanford Health and a renewed focus on growth after a period of financial distress.

Bob Chaloner, chief operating officer at Marshfield Medical Center, discussed the changes during an interview on “Hub City Times Presents” with host Peggy Sue Behselich.

Chaloner said Marshfield Clinic joined Sanford Health—based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—about a year ago, describing Sanford as nearly four times the size of Marshfield Clinic and part of a combined system totaling about 55,000 employees and hospitals across multiple states.

He said the partnership is aimed at strengthening the mission of providing high-quality health care in rural communities.

Financial turnaround after cuts
The organization’s rebranding follows what Chaloner described as a sharp financial turnaround. He said the health system faced several years of difficulty, citing the impacts of COVID and problems tied to a computer system implementation, with the organization losing “quite a bit of money” up through about 2024.

During that period, Chaloner said the system cut nearly 500 positions and reduced or scaled back some programs as part of “belt tightening.”

He said the organization is finishing 2025 with a “very healthy” and profitable bottom line—“light years ahead” of where it had been financially—and that leaders are no longer planning additional cutbacks.

Epic implementation and facility renovations
Looking ahead, Chaloner said the system plans to change its computer platform, beginning work “this coming year” to implement Epic, a system he noted is used in many major medical centers.

He said the work is expected to be largely behind the scenes for patients but would represent a major operational change.

Chaloner also said the organization is working on facility upgrades, including renovations to the surgical and medical intensive care units and plans to renovate the neonatal intensive care unit.

He added that the improved financial position has allowed the launch of new clinical programs and equipment additions, including donor funding for a new program serving people with essential tremors.

Hiring push: doctors, nurses and support staff
Chaloner said recruiting remains a major priority. He noted that as finances stabilized, the system added 120 doctors in the past year—describing it as the best year in many years—and is working to reduce reliance on agency nursing staff through incentives and hiring.

He said staffing needs include 100 to 150 physicians across the health system and about 185 nurses in Marshfield, along with openings for radiology technicians, pharmacy staff and laboratory roles.

He also described internal workforce training efforts, including a program to train EEG technicians and training pipelines for areas such as critical care nursing.

By the end of the interview, Chaloner estimated the organization needs to hire about 500 people across the system.

Wisconsin Rapids hospital and community support
Chaloner said the system previously built a hospital in Wisconsin Rapids that had not opened, but he expects the emergency room there to open “around March 1,” with inpatient services planned soon afterward.

He also highlighted community fundraising and support efforts, including renovations that turned the former American Cancer Society Hope Lodge into Cattail’s Place, a facility the organization operates for families staying in the area while a loved one receives cancer care.

Chaloner said the health system’s NICU renovation effort is part of a campaign with a $12 million goal, and he encouraged continued community support through donations, noting the local foundation is led by Terry Wilczek.

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