ThedaCare shows off new ‘campus of care’

ThedaCare opened its new Shawano hospital Wednesday with an invitation for residents to visit the $52 million facility for healing, gathering or learning.

“Today is a time for celebration,” hospital Chief Executive Officer Dorothy Erdmann told a crowd of several hundred outside the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

“Our new, very special place is ready for you,” Erdmann said. “Its doors are open and waiting for you.”

The crowd erupted in applause as ThedaCare executives gathered with civic leaders, employees and supporters to celebrate the success of four years of planning and 24 months of construction that will change the face of health care in Shawano forever.

When the new 128,000-square-foot hospital begins seeing patients on Sunday, the old Shawano Medical Center will close its doors after more than 80 years in operation across town.

Brian Burmeister, senior vice president of Appleton-based ThedaCare, said Wednesday he wanted to thank Shawano residents for “trusting our sincerity” as the company moved into the area with the promise of building upon the quality health care already available here.

Burmeister recalled his company’s emergence over many years from a small clinic operator to a long-term partner in the community.

“This community is now positioned to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art medical care right here in your own backyards for many generations to come,” he said.

Following welcoming remarks under a large tent outside the new hospital, officials and dignitaries participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the main entrance. Hundreds of people then stood in line to tour the facility, which will offer services in oncology, cardiology, maternity, surgery, rehabilitation, hospice and more.

About 400 doctors, nurses and others will work there alongside another 200 employed at ThedaCare’s adjacent outpatient clinic.

The new hospital also includes a 5,000-square-foot center where Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will maintain classroom and laboratory space for nursing students, in the first such collaboration in Wisconsin between health care professionals and educators.

NWTC President Jeffrey Rafn told the crowd Wednesday that his institution felt privileged to be part of ThedaCare’s new endeavor in Shawano. Rafn said although there were many skeptics when the hospital-college partnership was first suggested, the result is a unique combination of healing and learning under one roof.

“It really is truly something special,” he said.

ThedaCare, which operates six other hospitals and 35 clinics in Wisconsin, had been competing with Shawano Medical Center for many years by offering similar services at the local outpatient clinic. The two competitors forged an alliance in 2011 and began making plans for a new hospital.

Led by general contractor Boldt Construction Co., crews for ThedaCare began work on the new hospital in July 2013. Later, dozens of hospital employees began weekly meetings to plan their transition to the new facility.

“The number of collective hours put into this is unfathomable,” said Jim Meyer, president of the board of directors for ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

Erdmann told those gathered for Wednesday’s festivities that she hopes the community will embrace ThedaCare’s vision for a “campus of care.” Just like the old hospital, she said, people will go there to bring new children into the world, to take on the challenge of fighting diseases, and to prepare for their end-of-life days.

“This beautiful new medical center will hold such powerful meaning,” she said. “Today our vision has become a reality.”

The old Shawano Medical Center property, which was landlocked and could not be retrofitted, faces an uncertain future after Sunday’s closure.