The Chippewa County Executive Committee has reviewed a proposed feasibility study on the possibility of building a new hospital.

At their meeting on Tuesday, the Executive Committee reviewed a proposal from the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative, an organization formed to address the loss of all HSHS and Prevea facilities in the region earlier this year. Both Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire lost a hospital in the HSHS departure, putting enormous strain on the region’s health care field.

While other health care organizations have expanded their services in the area to cover the gap, officials believe that is only a temporary solution to a larger problem. The construction of a new hospital is the type of long-term solution that could make an immense difference in the state of the health care field, particularly in Chippewa County.

The proposed feasibility study is estimated to cost a total of $140,000, of which the county would provide $70,000. The goal of the study is to determine the necessary financing for the full new hospital project, which would include a morgue and emergency services, as well as determine an appropriate location for the facility. According to a WEAU report, Chippewa County officials say there is currently no plan to use the former St. Joseph’s Hospital site as the potential location for the new hospital.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative has made some progress on the first steps in establishing the new hospital. In May, the organization announced that it had created the organization structure and developed an operational plan for the new hospital, which would include 60-70 beds with an emergency room. Staffing at the new hospital would include over 125 independent physicians from OakLeaf Medical Network.

While there is still a long way to go, Chippewa County residents should be pleased to see a more permanent solution coming into focus while area officials work to address the current short-term health care issues.