IRON RIVER – Northstar Health System in Iron River officially adopted the name Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics during a rebranding launch on Monday.

Aspirus, Inc., of Wausau, Wis., had completed acquisition of the Iron River hospital more than a year ago, in July 2014.

The hospital then implemented a new electronic medical record system at all of its facilities this past August to further Aspirus systemization.

Aspirus now has eight hospitals, 60 clinics, and more than 7,000 staff members.

Speakers at Monday’s event in Iron River included Connie Koutouzos, Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics CEO; Chuck Nelson, Aspirus U.P. Regional CEO; Rick Nevers, Aspirus senior vice president and regional operations and system integration officer; Matt Heywood, Aspirus CEO; Don Bastianello, Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics board member; and Ray Koivunen, MD, of Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics.

Nelson said that being part of a larger system allows for the ability to share resources.

“Right here in Iron River, we now have four excellent cardiologists from the Aspirus Heart and Vascular Institute who serve this community,” he said. “We also have an expanded cancer care program that we partner on with Aspirus Grandview to ensure this community has access to the highest levels of cancer care right here locally.”

“The Aspirus brand is more than just a logo – it’s a culture, a way of being,” Koivunen added. “It’s increasingly becoming the preferred health care system for providers and nurses. Our position as Aspirus Iron River will give us greater potential to not only recruit new providers, but to retain the excellent providers we have. And what that means for you, is that as Aspirus, we can provide stable health care for the future of Iron County.”

Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics is located at 1400 West Ice Lake Road in Iron River.