Written by Jessica Meadows
Beginning in August 2019 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Warm Water Therapeutic Pool, new construction at the North Central Health Care Wausau Campus is moving forward as planned for its:
- Warm Water Therapeutic Pool
- Youth Psychiatric Hospital
- Community Based Residential Facility
- Skilled Nursing Tower
Each project sits at various stages of development, but remains on track even with the current restrictions due to COVID-19 and the extra precautions being taken to protect our communities.
Warm Water Therapeutic Pool
Since opening to the community in 1977, the North Central Health Care Warm Water Therapeutic Pool has served people who live each day seeking to improve their quality of life through therapies that are unique to the Central Wisconsin area. Over 1,400 pool users, from babies and children to adults and seniors make over 25,000 visits per year to the pool. Currently, over 200 local physicians refer patients to North Central Health Care’s pool for therapy.
Opening later in 2020, this 90- to 92-degree warm-water environment serves individuals of all ages by providing recovery treatment and care for a wide variety of ailments, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Injuries
- Neurological and brain injuries and disorders
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Joint replacements
- Addiction therapy
The NCHC Warm Water Therapeutic Pool is nearing completion, with finishing work being completed on the interior of the structure and pool area. The grand opening of the pool will be scheduled at a later date that follows the Governor’s Safer at Home order and the latest recommendations from the CDC as well as state and local health officials.
Railings and tile installation are underway in the NCHC Warm Water Therapeutic Pool. (Photo courtesy of Marathon County Facilities & Capital Management.)
Skilled Nursing Tower
The 4-story Skilled Nursing Tower construction has also begun. In late September, the clearing and demolition of one of the existing wings of the NCHC Campus began. This unit, referred to as E-wing, housed one unit of dementia care and one unit of the medically managed addiction treatment program Lakeside Recovery.
Residents in Evergreen Place were relocated to an existing empty wing of Mount View Care Center and the Lakeside Recovery program was relocated to a different wing on the NCHC Campus.
The Skilled Nursing Tower will bring in new efficiencies and modern amenities and will support higher acuity of care while continuing to provide services for residents who require dementia, long-term and short-term rehab, and ventilator-dependent care. Learn more about the project goals shared by Marathon County and NCHC.
construction begins on the 4-story Skilled Nursing Tower. (Photo courtesy of Marathon County Facilities & Capital Management.)
Youth Hospital & Adult Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF)
New construction of our Youth Hospital and CBRF continues as well. Located on the north side of the Campus, adjacent to the existing Mount View Care Center, the Youth Psychiatric Hospital will provide much-needed care for youth right here in Central Wisconsin and alleviate the need for them to be transported to facilities outside the area for care. With child psychiatrists on staff and a facility conveniently located in Wausau, area families will have accessible mental health care for youth in an environment created specifically for their unique needs.
The Adult CBRF will replace the existing one on the Wausau Campus. In this facility, a team of mental health specialists will provide stabilization to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and provide the opportunity to recover in a calming environment. A network of onsite licensed clinicians and psychiatrists provide 24/7 care to address each person’s unique challenges and provide resources for a return home.
You can watch live stream and time-lapse video of all the latest changes to the Campus at www.norcen.org/LiveStream or review the most up-to-date information, events, and contact information at www.norcen.org/Renovations.
Dedicated to the health and well-being of residents in Central Wisconsin, North Central Health Care and Marathon County are excited to share the continuing updates on the future of mental and behavioral health, aquatic therapy, and skilled nursing care in Central Wisconsin.
Jessica Meadows
Communications & Marketing Director | North Central Health Care
As the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at North Central Health Care (NCHC), Jessica Meadows is passionate about being able to use her creative talents to connect people to healthcare, resources, and networking that will impact their life in a positive way. Prior to joining NCHC, she was a Creative Director and leader at a marketing agency in the Stevens Point area. With almost 20 years’ experience in print, web, social media, video, radio, and public relations, it was important for her to connect back to her roots here in the Wausau area, where she and her husband raise their two young children. When she’s not busy at an event or volunteering, she enjoys playing sports, coaching, biking, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. Email Jessica Meadows.
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