The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative has selected River Valley Architects (RVA) for the architectural and engineering design services of their new hospital in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin. The proposed hospital site is located on the west side of Highway 53 between Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. The cooperative expects to open the new hospital in late 2027.
“The review process was extremely competitive. We were impressed with many of the presentations and frankly had several great options. RVA won on an objective point-scoring process which included many different reviewers.
This is a testament to the experience and healthcare knowledge that RVA brings to the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative’s team,” said Thomas Larson, member of the cooperative’s Board of Organizers, who co-led the architecture review process. The cooperative also announced plans to evaluate the former St. Joseph’s Hospital facility in Chippewa Falls.
An onsite evaluation process will begin this week, with a final decision expected by early April.
Chippewa Valley health project update
If reopened in 2025, the facility would offer healthcare services including 25 hospital beds, a five-bed ICU, emergency and medical-surgical services, comprehensive diagnostic services, labor and delivery services, and more.
Cancer treatment services and the morgue would also be reopened. “Since we started the cooperative, we’ve been singularly focused on making high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for Chippewa Valley residents as fast as possible,” said Robert Krause, Chair of the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative. Mike Sanders, managing director and former CEO of Monroe Clinic, highlighted the importance of this project for the community.
“There is no silver bullet to solve this situation sustainably for the long term. This important work takes considerable time and resources. If the cooperative can reopen the facility, it will be an important bridge strategy to help close the healthcare gap residents are experiencing now as the new hospital is being built.”
The new hospital in Lake Hallie will be a 144,000-square-foot facility with 48 beds, a 12-bed intensive care unit, an emergency department, labor and delivery services, and various medical-surgical services.
It will also provide diagnostic services, including laboratory, radiology, and cardiology, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The cooperative is also in discussion with various behavioral health providers to explore potential services for the Chippewa Valley region. The opening of the new hospital is eagerly anticipated, promising to enhance the healthcare landscape in the Chippewa Valley.