Sanford Health finalized its merger with Marshfield Clinic Health System, the health systems announced last week, and the deal expands Sanford's reach to communities in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The two health systems announced their intent to combine in July.

Last Thursday, the Marshfield Clinic Health System completed a merger with the South Dakota based Sanford Health. The two organizations announced the plan to combine last July. It means another change for health care in our area.

Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System announced last week that the two health care organizations have merged, but patients at Marshfield Medical Center – Beaver Dam should not notice

According to a joint release Thursday afternoon, the two organizations have completed their merger and are now integrated as one nonprofit health system, operating as Sanford Health. The Marshfield Clinic region is a new health services region of Sanford Health that will continue to serve communities in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Marshfield will now operate as a region of Sanford Health. The clinic’s interim CEO Brian Hoerneman will remain on as president and CEO of the operating region. The health systems reported they were in nonbinding merger discussions in July and signed a definitive agreement to combine in October.