OakLeaf Medical Network has announced that it will open four new healthcare clinics in the Chippewa Valley.

According to a press release, the organization will open four new clinics in Cornell, Ladysmith, Menomonie, and Rice Lake.

The announcement comes nearly a week following the official closure of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

In addition to the hospital closures, most Prevea clinics across the region are expected to close by the end of April, with the remaining clinics closing in June.

In the press release, President of OakLeaf Clinics Chris Longbella, M.D. said “Local access to high-quality healthcare is critical for communities to thrive. We moved quickly to fill the healthcare needs in these communities with talented providers with deep connections to their communities and help ensure a seamless continuity of care for patients no longer able to access the HSHS/Prevea system.”

The OakLeaf Clinic on North 7th Street in Cornell and Lake Avenue West in Ladysmith are scheduled to open on May 1. The Clinic on Stout Road in Menomonie is scheduled to open on May 6 and the Clinic on North Main Street in Rice Lake is scheduled to open on May 13.

In addition to the new clinics from OakLeaf, other medical providers in the Chippewa Valley like Mayo Clinic and Marshfield Clinic have committed to expanding their capacity and capabilities to bridge the gap in care caused by the HSHS and Prevea closures. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also signed legislation to reallocate $15 million to area emergency departments.