Aspirus is committed to keeping high-quality health care in the U.P., using foresight to navigate economic pressures and other factors that confront rural health care systems across the country. To do that, we must direct our resources where the community need is highest. Doing so is critical to maintaining essential services in the communities we care for.
The decision to transition our surgical services program at Aspirus Iron River to a day-only scheduling model is consistent with our commitment, and was reached after a sound, thoughtful review process. There has been a sharp decline in the number of after-hours cases in the past three years. So far in 2025, there have only been five after-hours cases, which highlights why this is the right choice. All current employees will be retained and will continue to serve in the surgical program.
This transition helps us preserve other essential services – such as emergency care, inpatient care, primary and specialty physician care, laboratory, imaging, and rehabilitation and therapy services – that are in much higher demand.
We understand some of our decisions have caused concern. But the only real concern should arise if Aspirus chose not to make smart, thoughtful decisions about care delivery. We are devoted to making the right choices that will keep high quality care within the reach of everyone within the U.P.
