Emplify Health, a newly merged health system comprising Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System, announced on Tuesday the name change of their organization. Dr. Scott Rathgaber, CEO of the merged system, explained that the new name reflects their commitment to amplifying empathy, which has been a core value of Bellin and Gundersen for over a century.
The two Wisconsin health systems collectively operate 11 hospitals across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan and employ around 15,000 people. However, Rathgaber stated that the name change process will not happen overnight but could take several years to complete. They plan to announce a detailed timeline in the following months on when the new name will officially be implemented but stressed that it is not an urgent or immediate change.
In addition to Emplify Health, the Bellin Health Foundation and Gundersen Medical Foundation will retain their current names and function separately from Emplify Health. This decision was made to ensure that donors know their contributions will directly benefit the communities where they live and work. Rathgaber emphasized that patients would not be affected by this transition as they would still be able to see their regular providers at the same locations as before.
Emplify Health’s commitment to empathy is evident in its mission statement: “To amplify empathy in healthcare.” The new name reflects this commitment by emphasizing their focus on understanding and supporting patients’ needs during difficult times.
Overall, the merger between Bellin and Gundersen has resulted in a larger organization with more resources to provide better care for patients across Wisconsin and beyond. With Emplify Health’s focus on empathy as its core value, patients can expect even more compassionate care in the future.