Ascension Wisconsin, the state's second largest health system, will undergo a restructuring following its acquisition of three major healthcare systems in the past few years.
The 27-hospital health system will divide the organization into two regions, each led by a new president, within the next 90 to 120 days, according to a news release. The health system will be divided by the northern and southern areas of Wisconsin.
Since 2013, Ascension has picked up Affinity Health System, Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.
Wheaton Franciscan became the latest health system to join Ascension when it was acquired in October 2015. Sixteen senior vice presidents exited the Milwaukee-based health system this month following Ascension's takeover, the BizTimes reported.
Daniel Neufelder, president and CEO of Ministry Health Care, decided not to pursue the northern region president position at Ascension Wisconsin. He will stay on as president until the role is filled in a few months.
Bernie Sherry, senior vice president of Ascension Health, Wisconsin Ministry Market Executive, will continue to lead the overall operations for Ascension Wisconsin, a role he took on in April.
A subsidiary of the largest not-for-profit health system, Ascension Wisconsin may compete with Aurora Health Care and Froedtert Health, both in the Milwaukee area. Ascension Wisconsin is composed of more than 24,000 employees and nearly 1,000 medical group physicians in hundreds of sites across the state.
St. Louis-based Ascension Health reported $20 billion in operating revenue in 2015. Revenue for Ascension Wisconsin was not available, according to a spokesman, but the health system has touted the subsidiary will profit $3.5 billion annually.
