For the City Times

Surgical Associates, S.C., based in Wausau, Wisconsin, signed a final agreement Apr. 1, 2016 to acquire Surgical Associates of Wisconsin Rapids, S.C. Combining the two independent surgical practices makes Surgical Associates, S.C., the largest independent, general and vascular surgical group in the state of Wisconsin and provides access to a team of 13 surgeons with multiple specialties for patients throughout central and northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“Wisconsin Rapids area patients will benefit from an expanded body of surgical expertise,” Dr. Steve Weiland, President of Surgical Associates, S.C. noted. “Our team of surgeons consults often on complex surgical cases involving the endocrine and hepatobiliary systems, the esophagus, pancreatic cancers and other medical issues. Including Dr. Joseph Garde and Dr. Marjorie Miller in those consultations will further strengthen our position as the premier provider of surgical services in Wisconsin Rapids and throughout our region.”

Surgical Associates will maintain one full service office Monday through Friday in Wisconsin Rapids. Long-term Wisconsin Rapids general surgeons, Dr. Garde and Dr. Miller, will continue seeing patients at their office in Riverview Hospital, 420 Dewey Street, Suite 2, Wisconsin Rapids. In addition, Dr. Benjamin Herdrich and Mary Jo Zurawski, A.P.N.P. will continue to see their vascular patients at Aspirus Doctors Clinic, 2031 Peach Street, Wisconsin Rapids.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Garde and Dr. Miller to our experienced team of surgeons and to help ensure the Wisconsin Rapids community will have convenient access to high quality surgical care for many years to come,” said Weiland. “We have had tremendous success in recruiting the highest quality surgeons to our practice and Dr. Garde and Dr. Miller exemplify those qualities.”

Dr. Garde stated that he and Dr. Miller are also very pleased that the two practices have become one. “Joining forces with our colleagues in Wausau will help us continue to deliver high quality surgical services to our Wisconsin Rapids area residents and provide greater access to more surgeons with more specialties,” Garde said. “In addition, we can now offer Wisconsin Rapids area patients seamless access to their medical records through Surgical Associates’ Epic Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Patients no longer need to worry about making sure their medical history and medications are transferred from their Aspirus primary care physicians to their surgical team. EMR technology supports our high quality surgical care across the continuum.”