Grand View Health System Joins Aspirus

Aspirus President and CEO Duane Erwin and Grand View Health System CEO Carol Goffnett sign documents of affiliation Tuesday.

WAUSAU, WI - Wednesday, September 1, 2010 – On Tuesday, August 31, Grand View Health System finalized an agreement to join the Aspirus health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin, effective October 1, 2010.

The Ironwood, Michigan–based system will be called Aspirus Grand View, and it includes a 25-bed critical access hospital with two medical clinics, a surgical center, two eye centers, walk-in clinic, physical therapy and a home health and home care division. With 403 employees and an active, courtesy and consulting medical staff of 64, Grand View Health System serves Michigan’s Gogebic County and Wisconsin’s Iron County, as well as surrounding areas.

“We believe Grand View will be a wonderful addition to the Aspirus family,” said Duane Erwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspirus, Inc. “This affiliation will increase our abilities to collaborate and share resources with our other partners in the Upper Peninsula to strengthen and expand services throughout the region.”

Aspirus Grand View is Aspirus’ third hospital partner in Upper Michigan. Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital, Ontonagon, Michigan, joined Aspirus in June 2007, and Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, Laurium, Michigan, joined Aspirus in June 2008.

Joining an affiliated group of high-quality providers will allow Aspirus Grand View to access new resources, share best practices and realize business efficiencies. It will be necessary to constantly improve quality and efficiency, to thrive in an industry that presents challenging workforce and reimbursement issues.

“Our No. 1 goal is providing excellent care to people throughout our service area, and we believe this affiliation will help us continue doing that for many years,” said Carol Goffnett, Chief Executive Officer of Grand View Health System. “Aspirus has a successful track record as a collaborative partner with other Upper Peninsula health care providers. Its nationally-recognized clinical quality will provide a direct link to world-class specialty care.”

Aspirus, Inc.

Aspirus is a non-profit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wis. With more than 4,300 employees, Aspirus serves people in 14 Wisconsin counties and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan through a series of affiliated hospitals; home health and hospice care; critical care and helicopter transport service; skilled nursing homes; an affiliated physician network; and an extensive clinics network.

Grand View Health System, Ironwood, Michigan