OCONTO — Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital, formerly known as Bellin Health Oconto Hospital (BHOH), is celebrating 20 years of service and high-quality care to the Oconto area community.
BHOH was created thanks to the collaborative partnership between Bellin Health and the Oconto Hospital Citizen’s Foundation. The duo joined forces to bring a hospital to the Oconto community as a law change was threatening to prevent the establishment of another critical care hospital in the area.
“We needed this level of care to best serve our community,” said Julie Bulin, Vice President of Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital. “Our doors opened on June 30, 2005 with four beds and an emergency department under the name of Bond Health Center. Thanks to the support and investment from the community, the hospital has grown and thrived to what we have now.”
Just three years after opening, the facility changed its name to Oconto Hospital & Medical Center to better reflect the comprehensive care it provided. That same year, the hospital reached a significant milestone by serving its 10,000th patient.
In 2012, a transformative $15 million expansion project allowed BHOH to add 46,000 square feet to its then 11,000-square foot facility. This expansion allowed Bellin Health to introduce new services such as primary care, behavioral health, therapy, diagnostics and outpatient surgery. The care team doubled in size, and the facility was able to serve more than twice as many patients annually.
“Today we are still seeing a tremendous impact on care and the Oconto economy,” added Bulin. “We currently have 380 team members, generating $37 million in total labor income contributing $91 million in total annual economic impact.”
As it looks to the next 20 years and beyond, Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital is committed to providing the same great care and services to the people of Oconto and surrounding communities. Click here to learn more.