APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A judge ended a temporary restraining order Monday in a workforce dispute between two hospital systems.
After Ascension NE Wisconsin hired a seven of ThedaCare’s 11-person interventional radiology and cardiovascular team who worked at ThedaCare’s Level 2 trauma and stroke center in Neenah, Theda filed suit against Ascension.
Last week, Outagamie County Judge Mark McGinnis put a temporary restraining order in place, telling Ascension to make certain staff available to ThedaCare to ensure critical care continued while the case continued.
There were several aspects of testimony Monday. It included testimony from a few of the seven employees about why they chose to apply to work at Ascension — and ThedaCare declining to match Ascension’s offer, a doctor about the impact of the loss of those workers to providing effective health care in urgent situations, and staff from both systems about the hiring process.
After Monday’s testimony, Judge McGinnis said ThedaCare did not meet all four of the required prongs to keep the temporary injunction in place.
“Could or should ThedaCare and Ascension get together and work in this transition period? I was hoping so over the weekend and I will continue to hope so. But I’m not able to craft any type of injunction that would require or limit Ascension without, I think, creating more issues or more friction, or taking away the ability that they have to provide healthcare services,” the judge said.
The decision means the seven medical workers can start work immediately at Ascension.
The lawsuit itself continues.
ThedaCare owns hospitals in Appleton and Neenah, among others. Ascension’s hospitals include St. Elizabeth in Appleton and Mercy in Oshkosh.
