EFFECTIVE
July 1, 2014, Aspirus
welcomed NORTH
STAR
Health System
(NHS) to the Aspirus family of providers.
Based in Iron River, Michigan, NHS
includes a 25-bed critical-access hospital;
clinics in Iron River and Crystal Falls;
and award-winning home health and
hospice services. Aspirus has offered to
retain all current NHS staff members.
“Our goal has always been to continue
providing high-quality health care to our
community,” said Connie Koutouzos,
president and chief executive officer
of NHS. “We are excited to be a part
of a system that focuses on providing
excellent, compassionate care and look
forward to exploring new ways to expand
and improve our services with the
support of a thriving system.”
Partnering for success
NHS is Aspirus’ fourth hospital partner
in Upper Michigan. Aspirus Ontonagon
Hospital in Ontonagon, Michigan,
joined Aspirus in November 2007;
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium,
Michigan, joined in July 2008; and Aspirus
Grand View Hospital in Ironwood,
Michigan, joined in October 2010.
In today’s changing health care industry,
it is increasingly challenging for small-town
hospitals to succeed without the advantage
of sharing services and costs with other
providers. Since joining Aspirus, all of the
system’s U.P. hospitals have dramatically
improved their financial health and have
strengthened and increased the services
available to their patients locally.
“We believe NORTH
STAR
will be
a tremendous addition to the Aspirus
family,” said Matthew Heywood,
president and chief executive officer
of Aspirus, Inc. “This will increase
our ability to serve communities
in the western Upper Peninsula by
collaborating and sharing resources with
our other regional partners.”
Chuck Nelson, U.P. regional chief
executive officer for Aspirus, looks
forward to the addition. “We welcome the
opportunity to work with the
NORTH
STAR
team to coordinate care
across our region,” he says.
Joining an affiliated group of high-
quality providers will allow NHS to access
new resources, share best practices and
make things even more efficient. That
collaboration will be vital in the system’s
efforts to constantly improve quality and
efficiency and to thrive in an industry that
presents challenging financial, workforce
and regulatory issues.
About NORTHSTARHealthSystem
NORTH
STAR
Health System is a
nonprofit organization serving the needs
of the South Central Upper Peninsula
of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.
The system includes more than 80
credentialed physicians and mid-level
providers across a wide range of
health care specialties.
W
Strengthening
local care
in the U.P.
Aspirus adds health system in Iron River, Michigan
Save the Date
Festival of Trees, Nov. 25–30
Festival of Trees is back for its 18th year of
kicking off the holiday season in the Wausau
area. The annual fundraiser for Aspirus Comfort
Care and Hospice Services is once again being
held at Stoney Creek Inn in Rothschild.
Mark your calendar for Nov. 25–30 and
enjoy a festive atmosphere while
supporting end-of-life care.
SAVOR THE SEASON WITH ASPIRUS
For ticket information and details on the
special events associated with Festival of
Trees, go online to
wausaufestivaloftrees.org.
Aspirus, Inc.
425 Pine Ridge Blvd.
Wausau,WI 54401
Nonpro t Org.
U.S.Postage
PAID
Wausau,WI
Permit No.5
