OakLeaf Clinics has expanded into Rice Lake, opening the doors to a new clinic and keeping a couple of providers from the now-departed Prevea Clinics in the local health care community.
Rice Lake’s new location is one of 11 OakLeaf Clinics, which provides primary and specialty care. It is part of the OakLeaf Medical Network, an independent physician association in western Wisconsin.
The departure of Prevea Clinics, which closed down operations in Rice Lake in April, left a gap in the health care landscape that OakLeaf Clinics is trying to bridge by opening a new location and hiring former Prevea staff who are known in the community.
“It is our goal and hope to keep as much care personalized and in the area as possible,” said Dr. Jordan Crow, an OB-GYN with OakLeaf Medical Network.
OakLeaf Clinics opened Monday with former Prevea providers Nurse Practitioner Kaley Wilson and Physician Assistant Bailey Yeager on staff.
Yeager has served the Rice Lake community for seven years.
“I am incredibly excited and grateful to be able to continue to practice in Rice Lake and help patients meet their health care goals and live a healthier life,” Yeager said in a news release. “I absolutely love serving this community and can’t wait to continue to improve our community’s health and wellbeing.”
“I have worked closely with patients, their families and friends for over 16 years,” Wilson added. “I am a Rice Lake native and take pride in serving our community. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with OakLeaf Clinics, which has proved me with the ability to continue to put patients first and provide care close to home.”
Crow said he worked closely with Yeager and Wilson while they were with Prevea and was excited to have them join OakLeaf Clinics.
“These excellent providers will be the first of many independent clinicians OakLeaf Clinics plans to support in Rice Lake,” Crow said in the news release.
The recent expansion in the wake of Prevea’s departure is the first step in OakLeaf Clinics’ effort to grow its presence in the Rice Lake area.
“We’re trying to be able to offer a larger menu of options for patients in the area because we see a clear need for it,” Crow said. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive from the community that they want more options, they want more choices, they value independent medicine.”
OakLeaf Clinics has set up temporarily with OakLeaf Medical Network member Diagnostic Radiology Associates at 1024 N. Main St., Rice Lake. A few locations are in mind for a permanent home, Crow said.
Dr. Kyle Dettbarn, president of the OakLeaf Medical Network board, told The Chronotype in April that CedarCrest Surgery Center, a newly constructed facility at 2200 Cedarcrest Drive on Rice Lake’s south side is a possibility if it has space or room for expansion. CedarCrest is operated by Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, which also is a part of the OakLeaf Medical Network.
Crow said CedarCrest Surgical Center has had a soft opening and a more formal opening is slated for this summer. The center offers a variety of procedures and surgeries.
Elsewhere in West Central Wisconsin, OakLeaf Clinics leased Prevea Clinic buildings in Cornell and Ladysmith and they opened on May 1. And Oakleaf Clinics and Foot & Ankle Clinic are now sharing the former Prevea medical clinic building they purchased together from Hospital Sisters Health System at 2919 Stout Road, Menomonie. OakLeaf Clinics Menomonie opened Tuesday at the new location, and Foot & Ankle Clinic will move soon to the larger space.
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