imported>Dizandsissy: Added awards found on the HealthGrades website.

2024-04-03T18:42:27Z

Added awards found on the HealthGrades website.

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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Gundersen Health System
| logo = Gundersen Health System logo.svg
| image = File:Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.jpg
|image_size = 300px
| type = [[Non-profit hospital]]
| industry = [[Health care]]
| foundation = [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Wisconsin]] (1902)
| founder = [[Adolf Gundersen]], [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]]
| location_city = La Crosse, Wisconsin
| location_country = United States
| area_served = [[Wisconsin]], [[Iowa]], [[Minnesota]]
| key_people = Scott Rathgaber, MD<br />({{small|Chairman and CEO}})
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees = 7,621<ref name="gundersenhealth.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/|title=Our System - Gundersen Health System|website=www.gundersenhealth.org}}</ref>
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.gundersenhealth.org/}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Gundersen Health System''' (Gundersen Health) is a comprehensive [[non-profit]] health system based in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our System - Gundersen Health System |url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/ |website=www.gundersenhealth.org |accessdate=April 5, 2019}}</ref> The system includes multi-specialty group medical practices, a teaching hospital, regional community clinics, affiliate hospitals and clinics, behavioral health services, vision centers, pharmacies, and air and ground ambulances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/?id=9&sid=1|title=Gundersen Health System|website=www.gundersenhealth.org}}</ref>

Gundersen Health's flagship hospital, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, is located in La Crosse and is a teaching hospital with 325 beds and a Level II Trauma and Emergency Center. The hospital received [[Healthgrades]] America's 50 Best Hospitals recognition in 2015 and 2017 placing it in the top 1% nationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=Healthgrades: Gundersen among America's 50 Best Hospitals - Gundersen Health System |url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/news/2017/healthgrades-gundersen-among-americas-50-best-hospitals/ |website=www.gundersenhealth.org |accessdate=April 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.healthgrades.com/quality/top-hospitals-2015|title=Healthgrades America's Best Hospitals™ - 2015|date=May 18, 2015|website=www.healthgrades.com}}</ref><ref name="gundersenhealth.org1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/news/|title=Gundersen Health System Newsroom - Gundersen Health System|website=www.gundersenhealth.org}}</ref> Additional awards include receiving the Healthgrades ''Distinguished Hospital Award-Clinical Excellence'' recognition eight years in a row from 2008 to 2015.<ref name="gundersenhealth1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/accomplishments/|title=Gundersen Accomplishments - Gundersen Health System|website=www.gundersenhealth.org}}</ref> From 2022-2024, Healthgrades awarded the medical center the ''Outstanding Patient Experience Award.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center - La Crosse, WI {{!}} Healthgrades |url=https://www.healthgrades.com/hospital-directory/wisconsin-wi/gundersen-lutheran-medical-center-hgste88b6bc6520087 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.healthgrades.com}}</ref>

Gundersen Lutheran is also a designated academic campus for the [[University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.med.wisc.edu/about-us/statewide-campus/|title=Statewide Campus|website=UW School of Medicine and Public Health}}</ref><ref name="gundersenhealth.org"/>

==History==
[[Adolf Gundersen]], who arrived in 1891 from [[Norway]], was the founder of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. Gundersen graduated from [[University of Oslo]]. In 1893 he married Helga Isaksaetre, with whom he had eight children. Four of the sons, Gunnar, Alf, Sigurd B. Sr. and Thorolf, joined their father in his first clinic, which opened in 1930 on the outskirts of the city. In 1944, three of the physician sons created Gundersen Medical Foundation, now known as Gundersen Medical Foundation.<ref>"It's a Fine, Family-Based Clinic in a Small Midwestern City, but the Name Is Gundersen, Not Mayo". ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', June 9, 1980.</ref> At the time, the work of the foundation helped attract specialists and sub-specialists from universities and large cities across the nation.<ref name="gundersenhealth2">{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/our-system/history/|title=History of Gundersen Health System |publisher=Gundersen Health System}}</ref>

Continued growth led to the expansion of the Gundersen campus on the city's south side including the construction of the main hospital, clinic, Founders Building, East Building, Inpatient Behavioral Health Center, and more.

In 1995, Gundersen Clinic and Lutheran Hospital-La Crosse formed Gundersen Lutheran, Inc. Later, in 2013 the organization was renamed Gundersen Health System to reflect growth outside of the traditional service area and to provide simplified branding of properties and services.<ref name="gundersenhealth.org1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/gundersen-name-change-takes-effect-wednesday/article_3c08e5c8-aefc-11e2-9a3c-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Gundersen name change takes effect Wednesday|first=Mike|last=Tighe|website=La Crosse Tribune}}</ref>

In 2011, the health system launched construction on the Legacy Building, a 430,000 square foot trauma and urgent care center at a cost of nearly $200 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/special-section/gundersen2014/building-a-legacy-gundersen-invests-millions-in-new-hospital/article_53a898ea-7f2b-11e3-8877-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Building a Legacy: Gundersen invests millions in new hospital|first1=Chris|last1=Hubbuch|first2=Mike|last2=Mike Tighe |website=La Crosse Tribune}}</ref> With a patient centered designed, all rooms in the new facility are private occupancy. Completed in early 2014, the Legacy Building is Gundersen's fifth LEED certified facility and 93% of all material used in the construction were recycled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/gundersens-new-legacy-in-sustainability/176008952|title=Gundersen's new Legacy in sustainability|first=Kyle|last=Dimke|date=January 15, 2014|website=WKBT}}</ref>

Receiving national attention in late 2014, Gundersen Health System became the first energy-independent hospital system in the country.<ref name="wpr.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/la-crosse-hospital-becomes-first-country-achieve-energy-independence|title=La Crosse Hospital Becomes First In Country To Achieve Energy Independence|date=November 12, 2014|website=Wisconsin Public Radio}}</ref>

==Medical operations==
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is the designated Western Academic Campus for the [[University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health]].

In 2013, Gundersen had 13,252 admissions, 1,437 births, and 20,842 emergency and [[trauma center]] visits. In total, the hospital and clinic saw 1,272,522 outpatient visits.<ref name="gundersenhealth.org"/> Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is an ACS verified [[Level II trauma center|Level II Trauma Center]]. There are approximately 6,316 employees, and 434 physicians and 259 physician assistants and nurse practitioners on staff.<ref name="gundersenhealth2"/>

==Accomplishments==
Gundersen Health received the ''[[Healthgrades]]'' America's 50 Best Hospitals designation in 2014, 2015 and 2016 placing the system among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide.<ref name="gundersenhealth.org1"/> Other achievements include ''Healthgrades'' Five Stars excellence awards in Cardiac Care, Coronary Intervention, Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Surgery, Pulmonary Care, General Surgery Gastrointestinal (GI) Care, and Critical Care.<ref name="gundersenhealth1"/>

==End-of-life planning==
In 1991, leaders of Gundersen pioneered the development and testing of an improved model of end-of-life planning and decision making.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gundersenhealth.org/respecting-choices/about-us/history-and-overview |title=History / Overview - Respecting Choices: Advance Care Planning - Gundersen Health System - Gundersen Health System - la Crosse, Wisconsin |access-date=November 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113053654/http://www.gundersenhealth.org/respecting-choices/about-us/history-and-overview |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was unique in the fact that professional, trained staff assisted patients and community members on end-of-life planning. Today, some 96% of people who die in La Crosse have an advance directive or similar documentation, whereas nationally only 30% of adults have similar plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2014/03/05/286126451/living-wills-are-the-talk-of-the-town-in-la-crosse-wis|title=The Town Where Everyone Talks About Death|website=NPR.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/being-prepared-for-the-final-days/|title=Being prepared for the final days|date=April 27, 2014|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/the-agenda/how-la-crosse-wisconsin-slashed-end-life-medical-expenditures-reihan-salam/|title=How La Crosse, Wisconsin Slashed End-of-Life Medical Expenditures|website=[[National Review]]|date=March 4, 2014|publisher=}}</ref>

Lessons learned from the project have been developed into a comprehensive curriculum that has become known as Gundersen Health System's Respecting Choices Organization & Community Advance Care Planning Course. Today, it uses an evidence-based model to communicate patient's wishes for care, treatment, or services before and at the end of life.<ref name="respectingchoices1">{{cite web|url=https://respectingchoices.org/|title=Respecting Choices - Person-Centered Care|website=Respecting Choices}}</ref> Respecting Choices is internationally recognized and provides training and consultation to organizations and communities around the world.<ref name="respectingchoices1"/> In 2014, it was announced the [[European Union]] was funding an $8.5 million study, which will take place over five years using Gundersen Health's "Respecting Choices" program as its model.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/european-group-studying-gundersen-end-of-life-care-program-b99275416z1-260859291.html|title=European group studying Gundersen end-of-life program|website=www.jsonline.com}}</ref> Other nations including Australia, Singapore, Canada, and states across America have adopted similar programs.

During the inaugural National Share the Experience Summit on September 7, 2016, Respecting Choices leaders announced the program's transition from Gundersen Health System to the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) under a long-term agreement.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/respecting-choices-transferring-to-d-c--based-group-hq/article_eface1ed-0021-5e13-b836-7c01f6892740.html|title=Respecting Choices transferring to D.C.-based group; HQ stays in La Crosse|first=Mike|last=Tighe|website=La Crosse Tribune}}</ref> Patients, partners, staffers and the public in general will continue to receive core Respecting Choices services under the partnership, as well as realizing additional benefits from other opportunities, C-TAC and Gundersen officials said.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thectac.org/2016/09/c-tac-launches-service-affiliate-c-tac-innovations-includes-respecting-choices/|title=C-TAC Launches Service Affiliate C-TAC Innovations, Which Includes Respecting Choices ®|date=September 8, 2016|website=C-TAC}}</ref> Almost all of Respecting Choices staffers and certain key leaders will move from offices on Gundersen's La Crosse campus to another location in the city, although staffers will be C-TAC employees.<ref name="auto"/> "The mission and the content will be moving, but the program will remain the same", says Bud Hammes, director of Medical Humanities and Respecting Choices at Gundersen Health System and one of the inventors of the advance-care planning program.<ref name="auto"/>

==Environmental efforts==
In 2014, Gundersen Health System became the first energy-independent hospital in the country.<ref name="wpr.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenenvision.org/envision/accomplishments/|title=Gundersen Envision Accomplishments |publisher=Gundersen Health System}}</ref> Through the Gundersen Envision program founded in 2008, the system has invested nearly $30 million in renewable energy projects including [[biogas]], geothermal, landfill gas-to-energy, solar, wind, and more resulting in annual savings of nearly $2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/gundersen-health-system-reaches-energy-independence-goal_20161121021748110/176052906|title=Gundersen Health System reaches energy independence goal|date=November 11, 2014|website=WKBT}}</ref> Project partnerships in renewable energy efforts include [[Organic Valley]], [[Dane County]], [[La Crosse County]] and numerous farms across the Midwest.<ref name="gundersenenvision1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gundersenenvision.org/envision/our-programs/renewable-energy/|title=Renewable energy |publisher=Gundersen Health System}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gundersenenvision.org/renewable-energy/turning-cow-waste-into-energy |title=Turning cow waste into energy - Renewable Energy - Gundersen Envision - la Crosse, Wisconsin |access-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113044106/http://www.gundersenenvision.org/renewable-energy/turning-cow-waste-into-energy |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Locations==
[[File:Gundersen Health System.jpg|thumb|Gundersen Health System in [[Onalaska, Wisconsin]]]]
[[File:Gundersen Health Systems and Tomah Health.jpg|thumb|Gundersen Health System next to Tomah Health in [[Tomah, Wisconsin]]]]
Gundersen Health System has locations in 19 counties throughout western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. The network's sprawling flagship campus is located on the south side of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
On June 1, 2022, Gundersen announced its intention to merge with the [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]-based [[Bellin Health]]. Their merger was completed December 1, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schulz |first1=Joe |title=Wisconsin sees 2 major hospital mergers finalized back to back |url=https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-hospital-mergers-gundersen-health-system-bellin-advocate-aurora-atrium |access-date=30 May 2023 |work=WPR |agency=Wisconsin Public Radio |date=12 Dec 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Other sources===
* Hessel, Susan T. ''Medicine, the Gundersen Experience, 1891-1991'' (Gundersen Clinic, Ltd., La Crosse, Wisconsin: 1991)
* Midelfort, H. Christine ''A Norwegian Immigrant's Accommodation To America: The Early Letters of Dr. Adolf Gundersen'' (Peninsula Nordic Study Circle Lecture Series. 2005–2006)

==External links==
* [http://www.gundersenhealth.org Gundersen Health System]
* [http://www.gundersenhealth.org/foundation Gundersen Medical Foundation]
* [http://www.gundersenhealth.org/respecting-choices Respecting Choices® Advance Care Planning]
{{Wisconsin Trauma Centers}}{{coord|43|47|41|N|91|14|50|W|type:landmark_region:US-WI|display=title}}

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[[Category:Hospital networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Healthcare in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Medical and health organizations based in Wisconsin]]

Gundersen Health System - Revision history

imported>Dizandsissy: Added awards found on the HealthGrades website.