Primary Care Expansion Coming To Spooner Through New Health Partnership

Collaboration between Spooner Health and Tamarack Health to increase access to primary care and OB outreach services.

Primary Care Expansion Coming To Spooner Through New Health Partnership

SPOONER, WI — It is with great enthusiasm that Spooner Health and Tamarack Health announce a new collaboration to expand access to primary care providers, including OB outreach services, in the greater Spooner area.

The 2025 Washburn County Community Health Needs Assessment survey, completed in the fall of 2024 revealed that 54% of community members felt that more primary care providers would improve the community’s access to healthcare services, an increase of 12% from the 2021 survey.

As independent, community-based organizations, Spooner Health and Tamarack Health are expanding their current relationship to meet the community’s health needs. With Tamarack Health physicians providing primary care on the Spooner Health campus, residents in this region will experience increased access to care.

“For the past several years, we have heard the need from our community for increased access to primary care providers,” shared Mike Schafer, CEO of Spooner Health. “We are excited to expand primary care options by collaborating with Tamarack Health. The two organizations have much in common, serving very similar rural communities with high patient satisfaction. Additionally, with Spooner Health’s high employee engagement and Tamarack Health’s high physician engagement, this collaboration was a natural fit for both organizations.”

As well as making sure families have access to primary care, both organizations recognize that there is extremely limited access to pregnancy care in the region. The primary care services will also include OB outreach services. allowing families access to prenatal and post-partum care right here in Spooner with deliveries at the Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center.

“Tamarack Health is dedicated to making sure women and families have access to essential pregnancy care, which inspired our decision to expand primary care services to the Spooner area,” said Luke Beirl, President & CEO of Tamarack Health. “While mothers will still travel to Hayward for delivery, we’re reducing travel time by offering convenient prenatal and postpartum care through OB outreach services.”

A thriving community depends on strong healthcare services. Both Spooner Health and Tamarack Health acknowledge that their relationships with regional partners and local agencies are essential to the wellbeing of the community and its residents. With all organizations working together, the residents of the Spooner area will have the best access to healthcare options possible.

As a result of the expanded services, Spooner Health will be embarking on a building project in the coming months. More information will be shared with the community as the process progresses.


Spooner Health is a 25-bed critical access hospital offering a wide range of services from emergency and inpatient care to outpatient therapy, surgery, diagnostic imaging, and more. Spooner Health is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized care that puts people first. Spooner Health is proud to be rated in the 99th percentile for organizational pride and workplace satisfaction, creating an environment where both patients and staff thrive.

Tamarack Health is a private, non-profit healthcare organization serving the medical needs of northwest Wisconsin with a mission to improve the health and well-being of the people of our region. Operations include locally-led critical access hospitals and full-spectrum specialty and primary care at Ashland Medical Center, Hayward Medical Center, outreach clinics in Cable and Superior, Water’s Edge Senior Living, and growing primary care clinics. Tamarack Health focuses on patient-centered care with over 1,200 employees and 150 physicians and care providers. Learn more at tamarackhealth.org.

Last Update: Aug 14, 2025 9:17 am CDT

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