Aspirus Health Is Closing Its Prentice Clinic and Consolidating Into Phillips

By /

Aspirus Health is closing its Prentice clinic and folding that care into its Phillips location — a shift that means residents on the southern end of Price County will travel north to the county seat for primary care.

Aspirus announced Tuesday, June 23, 2026 that it would consolidate the operations of Aspirus Prentice Clinic and Aspirus Phillips Clinic at the end of July 2026. The move — first reported by the Price County Review on June 27 — is meant, in Aspirus’s words, “to focus resources where they can have the greatest positive impact” across its service area.

What Changes for Prentice Patients

Last updated: August 2026

Patients currently seen in Prentice will be transitioned, with their clinicians and staff, to the Phillips location. As part of the consolidation, the Phillips clinic will operate five days per week and add imaging services that were not available in Prentice.

“We will work closely with patients to ensure a smooth transition as needed to support continuity of care,” said Mark Randell, vice president of primary care for Aspirus Medical Group.

One important distinction: Aspirus was explicit that its Aspirus Therapy-Prentice location is not affected and will keep operating at its current site. So therapy patients stay put, even as primary care moves.

Why It Matters in Price County

This is the newest example of rural healthcare consolidating toward larger towns , and it lands on a town that has already watched services thin out. Price County is home to about 13,500 residents with exactly one hospital across a wide rural footprint, and it has never had a surplus of providers. In Rural Healthcare on Life Support, we described what rural health economists call the “rural healthcare paradox”: systems have to centralize to stay financially viable, but that centralization pushes care farther from the people in smaller communities.

Aspirus itself pointed to the pressures driving the decision, from a “challenging” operating environment to what Randell called one of the “most significant challenges facing rural health care”: physician shortages.

“Our commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care remains unchanged. Physician shortages are one of the most significant challenges facing rural health care, and we will continue to adapt to meet the evolving needs of our patients and communities.”

Mark Randell, VP of Primary Care, Aspirus Medical Group

What Prentice Residents Should Do

  • Watch for a call. Aspirus says it will contact patients being transitioned to arrange continuing care at Phillips. If you haven’t been reached, call Aspirus Phillips directly.
  • Know the two locations. Primary care and the care team move to Aspirus Phillips Clinic. Aspirus Therapy-Prentice does not move.
  • Plan the drive. Prentice to Phillips is roughly 10 miles, a short trip by rural Wisconsin standards , but a real change for anyone who relied on walking into the in-town clinic.
  • Bring records and lists. Even with records transferring, bring a current medication list and any recent test results to your first Phillips appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aspirus Prentice clinic closing for good?
Yes. Aspirus is consolidating Prentice operations into Phillips effective the end of July 2026. The Prentice building is no longer serving as a primary care location.

Will my doctor come to Phillips too?
Aspirus says clinicians and staff from Prentice are transitioning to the Phillips clinic, so patients should largely keep their care team.

What about Aspirus Therapy-Prentice?
That location is not affected and continues operating as before.

Where do I go for a same-day problem after this?
Your first stop is Aspirus Phillips. For emergency care, the nearest Level II trauma center is 87 miles away in Marshfield.

The Bigger Picture

The Prentice consolidation follows broader consolidation among the region’s largest systems . Aspirus Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System , as rural providers stretch thin against workforce shortages. For a county where some residents already face an hour-plus drive to the nearest full-service hospital, every clinic closure narrows the gap between accessible care and a long trip.

The real test will be whether consolidating into Phillips keeps care reachable , or just moves it another 10 miles down Highway 13. We’ll update this story as the transition takes effect and any further service changes are announced.

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin When you want a hot meal after camping, Ripsaw Saloon in Prentice is open Thu–Sun from 2 PM.

See also: what makes Price County communities special

See also: our guide to every town in Price County

Sources

See us more often in GoogleOne click marks Price County Fun as a preferred source, so our articles sit higher in your Top Stories, AI Mode, and AI Overviews.
Scroll to Top