‘Patients and Their Families are at the Center of Everything We Do’
ThedaCare recently celebrated one year of providing health services to people in and around the Fond du Lac community. As the organization reflects on its anniversary, people like David Hahn can attest to the positive impact of having the medical facility in the area.
Hahn, a Markesan resident, recalled an early February morning when he needed emergency care. He didn’t hesitate to head to ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac.
“I was always informed about my treatments,” he said. “I could not be more pleased about the whole process, my whole experience.”
That’s exactly what people can expect when they visit ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac, said Cristina Raish, RN, Community Hospital Clinical Director for ThedaCare. “We strive to provide that same level of seamless care to all the patients we see.”
Hahn’s Story
This past winter, Hahn became ill with what he said he assumed was pneumonia. In the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, his condition worsened.
“Friday night, it just got unbearably painful and I had trouble breathing,” he said. “I didn’t think it was a heart attack but I knew there was something wrong.”
Thanks to past positive experiences with the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, Hahn chose the Froedtert & MCW Fond du Lac East Johnson Clinic for his primary care. When he needed emergency care, his wife, Debbie, decided to bring him to ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac.
By the time the couple arrived, Hahn was in so much pain, he couldn’t move on his own. Teams were ready for him. “They got me in right away and there was no waiting.”
Dr. Charles Washington, an Emergency Medicine Physician, was working in the emergency department that evening.
“Dr. Washington immediately ordered a CT scan and diagnosed a blood clot in my right lung,” Hahn said. “Within about an hour, I was being treated.”
Because of concerns about Hahn’s heart, the team arranged for him to receive a higher level of care at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, the ThedaCare hub for cardiovascular care. ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care is nationally recognized for cardiac care.
Tests showed Hahn’s heart wasn’t in danger. Teams in Appleton continued the blood thinner treatment Dr. Washington had started in Fond du Lac. Hahn began to feel better quickly and went home the next day.
Today, Hahn, a retired dairy farmer, is doing well and has resumed his active lifestyle.
“I’d go back to ThedaCare in a heartbeat if I had to have something done,” he said. “I’ve been impressed with the whole program there.”
Expert Care
Hahn’s experience exemplifies the kind of emergency care people can expect to receive at ThedaCare, said Dr. Nathan Larsen, Medical Director of the Emergency Department at ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac.
“Patients and their families are at the center of everything we do,” he said. “We strive to provide prompt, exceptional care and keep people informed throughout their time with us.”
Though Hahn required a higher level of care at another medical center, Dr. Larsen said that’s often not the case.
“We care for the vast majority of our patients, around 95%, onsite in Fond du Lac,” he said. “We’re well-prepared to meet the needs of the community. When that next level of care is necessary, we are conveniently located between the Fox Cities and Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee and are prepared to make the process seamless.”
Dr. William Kumprey, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Emergency Medicine for ThedaCare, emphasized the specialized emergency care available to people through ThedaCare.
“In our emergency departments, we have board-certified ED physicians,” he said. “This means the physician treating you has completed rigorous, specialized training specifically focused on emergency medicine. Our physicians have expertise in handling urgent and life-threatening conditions.”
Celebrating a Year of Impact
ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac opened in April 2025 with the goal of meeting the need for increased access to care for the greater Fond du Lac community. In addition to emergency care, the medical center offers inpatient hospital care, advanced imaging, outpatient lab services and cardiology and neurology care.
The services available through ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac complement the offerings at the nearby Froedtert & MCW Fond du Lac East Johnson Clinic. The clinic offers comprehensive primary care, with same-day appointments often available. It also offers orthopedic care, mammography, X-ray, lab and ThedaCare At Work services.
“Our focus is to ensure we’re providing the right care, at the right time, at the right place,” said Jenny Nikolai, Vice President of ThedaCare Medical Centers-Fond du Lac and Oshkosh. “As part of an integrated delivery system, Froedtert ThedaCare is here to ensure you receive the care you need and deserve.”
ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac has made a difference in its first year by:
- Expanding access: The medical center provided nearly 15,000 medical services across emergency care, cardiology, imaging and lab.
- Providing quick, efficient care: On average, a board-certified emergency medicine physician will see you quickly, oftentimes in less than 10 minutes.
Reflecting on the past year, Nikolai said she’s looking to the future. “We look forward to many more years to come and continuing to care for the greater Fond du Lac community.”
Learn more about services available and how ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac and the Froedtert & MCW Fond du Lac East Johnson Clinic come together to provide comprehensive care.
“I’d go back to ThedaCare in a heartbeat if I had to have something done.” That’s the verdict from David Hahn. The Markesan resident visited ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac in February when he began experiencing chest pain. Medical teams there treated him, attributing his chest discomfort to a blood clot.
About ThedaCare
For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including 10 hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.