Sept. 17, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA Wis. – Healthcare provider Emplify Health is moving forward with plans to purchase land in the Viroqua Business Park for a proposed new medical campus, signaling a firm intention to maintain a permanent presence in Vernon County.
The move comes as Emplify Health and Vernon Health navigate a major shift in the local healthcare landscape. The Vernon Health Board of Directors recently voted to reject a proposed system acquisition by Emplify Health, choosing instead to remain an independent, locally governed community hospital. In the wake of that decision, Emplify Health pledged to stay in Viroqua to continue serving its local patient base, while agreeing to extend Vernon Health’s access to its shared Epic electronic health records platform through August 1, 2027.
Evidence of Emplify Health’s serious intent to establish its own standalone footprint emerged during the September 8, 2026 Viroqua Common Council meeting. Representatives presented a proposal titled Growing Forward and requested a Memorandum of Understanding to advance a land purchase and development agreement in the city’s business park. Prior to a closed session to give more details to the council, Emplify gave a brief presentation with some very preliminary information about what the campus could look like and what might be include. Following that closed session the council leaders referred the proposed memorandum to the joint Viroqua Business Park Commission, allowing the incoming City Administrator and commission members to thoroughly evaluate the land transaction before returning it to the council.
Empilfy Presentation to the Viroqua City Council on Sept. 8:
Healthcare leaders emphasized that the information presented to the city remains very preliminary, with the final building size and facility scope still unknown. A significant portion of the final design will depend on how clinical services and patient care untangle between the two healthcare organizations over the coming months, as well as which specific medical specialties Emplify Health decides to incorporate into the new location.
Preliminary concepts shared with municipal officials outline a potential 80,000 square foot outpatient campus designed to accommodate approximately 50,000 patient visits annually. The facility would build on Emplify Health’s existing local care offerings and could include services such as primary care, laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, vision care, and specialty clinics.
City officials emphasized the discussions are very preliminary and they want to see more detail as the begin negotions and possible land purchase and development.
Emplify Health is also evaluating several potential additions for the site, including an urgent care clinic, outpatient surgery suites, a retail pharmacy, and expanded diagnostic services. A presentation by Emplify representatives outlined a multi year timeline, beginning with land acquisition and baseline agreements in 2026, refining facility design and clinical services throughout 2027, and advancing major construction milestones in 2028.
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