What Gundersen Health System does

Gundersen Health System is a non-profit regional healthcare delivery organization headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, founded in 1891 by Norwegian-born surgeon Dr. Adolf Gundersen. In 2025 the system entered a strategic partnership with Bellin Health under the unified Emplify Health brand, combining their legacies to deliver primary, specialty, and emergency care across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The operating footprint consists of 7 hospitals (including a 325-bed tertiary medical center in La Crosse and six Critical Access Hospitals serving rural communities) and 65 clinics, staffed by more than 700 providers and offering 45+ pediatric specialty services across 30+ primary care locations.

The core technology platform is the Epic MyChart patient portal (now unified under the Emplify Health MyChart brand), which serves as the digital front door for scheduling, telehealth, messaging, and prescription management. The system also operates Gundersen Pharmacy (13 retail locations) and Gundersen Specialty Pharmacy (URAC and ACHC accredited), a 24-hour nurse line, mobile mammography and pediatric mobile clinic units, and Business Health occupational health services. A distinguishing infrastructure is the in-house renewable energy system — first U.S. health system to achieve energy independence (2014) — combining biogas, biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, and microgrid assets that generated $5.7M in energy cost savings in 2024.

Revenue is generated through traditional fee-for-service healthcare delivery billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers (including Quartz Health Solutions), supplemented by retail and specialty pharmacy sales and direct-to-employer occupational health contracts. Sustainability consulting is monetized through the Eneration subsidiary, which Gundersen founded to advise other healthcare organizations on energy efficiency. Philanthropic and research activity flows through Gundersen Medical Foundation ($7.2M distributed in FY2025) and Gundersen Research Institute, while Gundersen Partners coordinates 75+ years of volunteer and donor activity. Distribution is direct to consumers across the integrated facility network, supported by digital self-serve via MyChart and proactive community outreach including the Children's Miracle Network partnership.

Name

Gundersen Health System

Legal name

Gundersen Health System

Website

https://gundersenhealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Gundersen Health System (now Emplify Health) is a non-profit regional healthcare network operating 7 hospitals and 65 clinics across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, serving individual patients, families, and employers through integrated primary, specialty, emergency, and occupational health services anchored by an Epic MyChart digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Services (Hospital and Clinic Network)

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), All Other Outpatient Care Centers (621498)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) & Multi-Hospital Systems (HLAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based & Nonprofit Hospital Systems (HLAFAAAE), Occupational & Employer-Sponsored Primary Care Clinics (HLAFAGAJ)

Keywords

• Hospital and clinic services
• Primary care services
• Specialty healthcare
• Pharmacy services
• Occupational health

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Services Revenue: Traditional fee-for-service healthcare delivery through hospitals, clinics, and specialty services. Revenue generated from patient visits, procedures, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, and treatments billed to insurance providers including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers.
2. Specialty Pharmacy Services: Gundersen Pharmacy and Gundersen Specialty Pharmacy provide prescription medications, over-the-counter products, medical equipment, and specialty medications with accreditations from URAC and ACHC.
3. Business Health Services: Occupational medicine, drug testing, workers compensation case management, wellness programs, DOT physicals, and employer health services sold directly to businesses and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gundersen Health System is a regional non-profit integrated healthcare delivery network operating 7 hospitals and 65 clinics across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It provides primary care, specialty care (including cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology), emergency and urgent care, pharmacy and specialty pharmacy services, and occupational/business health programs for employers, supported by the Epic-based Emplify Health MyChart digital patient portal. The organization is unifying with Bellin Health under the Emplify Health parent brand.

Product overview

Gundersen Health System (now Emplify Health) is a healthcare delivery network offering a comprehensive integrated platform of clinical services across 7 hospitals and 65 clinics in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The core offering centers on the Emplify Health MyChart patient portal (powered by Epic) as the unified digital front door, supplemented by in-person care through primary care, specialty services (cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, etc.), emergency/urgent care, pharmacy services, and Business Health occupational health programs. Key digital add-on modules include Video Visits telehealth, MyChart Online Visit asynchronous care, and MyChart Message secure messaging. The system also operates Gundersen Specialty Pharmacy, a 24-Hour Nurse Line, a Pediatric Mobile Clinic, and cardiovascular rehabilitation programs. Philanthropic operations run through Gundersen Medical Foundation and Gundersen Partners volunteer/donor organization. The health system has a strong sustainability focus with renewable energy initiatives managed through Gundersen Edge technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gundersen Medical Foundation: Supports medical education, research, and patient care programs and services.
• Gundersen Partners
• Gundersen Gift Shop
• Gundersen Edge
• MyChart
• Lifesaver Wellbeing
• Gundersen Research Institute

Products and services

• Emplify Health MyChart Patient Portal Unified secure patient portal (Epic-based) enabling patients to schedule appointments, view test results, request prescription refills, conduct video visits, message providers, and manage family health records.
• Primary Care Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Five-star rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xcel EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2024Partnership to create an all-renewable energy microgrid on the Gundersen Onalaska Campus. This resilient and renewable energy healthcare campus project represents a significant investment in sustainable healthcare infrastructure.
• Bellin HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership forming Emplify Health, a unified health system combining Gundersen Health System and Bellin Health. The partnership aims to provide expanded primary, specialty, and emergency care to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula while maintaining the commitment to compassionate, comprehensive healthcare.
• Children's Miracle NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChildren's Miracle Network at Gundersen supports children and families in the 25-county service area facing all types of medical battles, regardless of where they receive care. Raises funds through various initiatives.
• Practice GreenhealthminorOthersHealthcare sustainability organization that recognizes Gundersen's environmental excellence through various awards including Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award for 11 consecutive years and Emerald Awards.
• Healthcare Without Harm (Healthcare Climate Challenge)minorOthersInternational healthcare sustainability organization that recognizes healthcare systems for climate action through Partner for Change Awards and Gold recognitions in greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
• EnvisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the sustainable energy microgrid project at the Gundersen Onalaska Campus. Envision provides expertise in renewable energy infrastructure development.
• EnerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting service that helps other healthcare organizations with sustainability efforts. Gundersen founded this team to assist the healthcare industry in adopting sustainable practices.
• Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of WCHQ, a voluntary consortium working to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare. Gundersen uses WCHQ data to direct quality improvements.
• Quartz Health SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealth insurance partner offering benefits plans. Gundersen providers participate in Quartz provider networks for employee health coverage.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bellin Health: Green Bay-based regional nonprofit health system that partnered with Gundersen in 2025 to form Emplify Health. Operates a comparable integrated delivery model with hospitals, clinics, and employer health services in Wisconsin, making it the most direct peer given the unified brand and combined operations.
• Marshfield Clinic Health System: Wisconsin-headquartered integrated nonprofit health system combining a large physician clinic with hospitals across rural Wisconsin. Comparable integrated delivery model with strong ambulatory footprint and similar rural Midwestern patient base.
• ThedaCare: Northeast Wisconsin nonprofit regional health system with multiple hospitals and physician group serving a similar rural-urban mix. Comparable in scale, community-anchored delivery model, and employer health orientation.
• Essentia Health: Duluth-based nonprofit integrated health system serving Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Michigan with hospitals and clinics. Overlaps with Gundersen's tri-state service area and shares a similar rural-anchored integrated delivery approach.
• Aspirus Health: Upper Midwest nonprofit health system serving Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula with hospitals, clinics, and home health. Overlaps directly with Gundersen's service geography and rural delivery model, and extends into the Michigan UP region that Emplify Health now targets.
• OSF HealthCare: Illinois-based nonprofit Catholic health system operating across Illinois and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Comparable as a faith-based, multi-state regional integrated delivery network with similar Critical Access Hospital exposure and rural service orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Mayo Clinic Health System: Major tertiary and integrated delivery network operating across the Upper Midwest, including sites that overlap with Gundersen's geography. Functions as a broad incumbent that competes for complex referrals and ambulatory patients while also serving as a referral destination for Gundersen's higher-acuity cases.
• UW Health: Wisconsin-based academic health system affiliated with the University of Wisconsin. Operates a broad portfolio across Wisconsin and competes for tertiary cases and specialty referrals from Gundersen's catchment area as a larger incumbent with academic depth.

Others

• Children's Miracle Network: National nonprofit that operates the fundraising arm at Gundersen to support pediatric care. Functions as a fundraising and brand partner rather than a service delivery competitor, but is relevant as a peer touchpoint for pediatric services and community engagement.
• Quartz Health Solutions: Regional health insurance carrier affiliated with Gundersen and other provider systems. Quoted as a channel partner on Quartz provider networks and as a wholly owned subsidiary (Quartz Benefits), making it an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct delivery competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=gundersen+health+system
• Xx.com/gundersenhealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/gundersenhealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gundersen-health-system

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A1 record

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gundersen Health System