NEENAH, Wis. – Initial construction work is now underway at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah as part of the $100M investment to modernize the hospital campus, while enhancing and expanding services. The Inspired Past; Healthier Future modernization will transform health care for all those living in the region, and allow ThedaCare to continue its commitment to keeping care local in the Fox Cities.
Current services, including care in the Emergency Department, will remain open during the construction process.
“We are intentionally planning construction phases to allow for patients and families to continue accessing critical services with ease,” said Lynn Detterman, Senior Vice President of ThedaCare South Region. “We are committed to helping patients navigate any changes they might experience at the campus, and we appreciate understanding and patience from community members.”
The enhancements will advance coordinated care throughout the ThedaCare service area, including critical access hospitals, giving patients greater access to innovative and specialized care, as close to home as possible. The design of the enhancements is aimed to reduce cost, improve capacity, create sustained operational efficiency with more efficient work areas for health care teams and ultimately provide an exceptional patient experience.
Some highlights of the transformation will include:
- Expanding and redesigning the Emergency Department (ED), creating additional care space.
- Creating an additional ThedaStar Air Medical Program Helipad adjacent to the Emergency Department for rapid transfer of patients.
- Enhancing the specialized space to care for stroke patients to continue a coordinated response as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Updating operating rooms to include advanced robotic surgical equipment, and creating four dedicated robotics suites to support better outcomes for patients, and develop an outstanding teaching environment as leaders in robotics surgery.
- Updating the Family Birth Center, allowing families to welcome little ones into the world in a modern, comfortable and soothing environment.
- Creating a new environment for the Women’s Center, which includes mammography, diagnostics and imaging, and bone density testing.
- Improving and expanding access for Behavioral Health services by redesigning the inpatient space and reintroducing the Day Treatment program to the hospital. This move will provide a more optimal experience for our patients, a safer workplace for caregivers and build capacity for additional treatment options at other ThedaCare Behavioral Health clinic sites.
- Designing a new dining area on the main floor for the convenience of visitors and team members.
The initial construction phase, which began the first week of January 2022, includes moving offices and departments in order to begin work on the creation of “Main Street”, where key diagnostic outpatient services will be located on the first floor of the hospital to ensure easier patient access.
Another significant portion of the update at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah will include the creation of space to house a Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program, which will provide formal medical education and training for Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. GMEs are commonly referred to as residencies or fellowships. Once complete, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah will be the first hospital in Northeast Wisconsin to offer an accredited GME program outside of Milwaukee and Madison.
Enhancements to better the patient experience at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah were funded in part through generous donors who support the ThedaCare Foundation-Neenah. The community has already graciously contributed more than
$15M to this historic project. The next phase of construction, which will include work on the new Emergency Department, is scheduled to begin in spring 2022. The full modernization is expected to be complete in fall 2023.
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 600,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 health care professionals. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including seven hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique best lives. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care.
For more information, visit thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on social media. Members of the media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public and Media Relations Consultant at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
