Marshfield Clinic Health System and Minnesota-based Essentia Health said Friday they are no longer moving forward with their merger.

The two said in a statement that joining forces “at this time is not the right path forward for our respective organizations, colleagues and patients.”

Instead, they’ll continue to seek opportunities for collaboration.

“As we now move our separate ways, Marshfield Clinic looks forward to advancing our 100-year legacy of providing compassionate and accessible care to the communities we serve,” interim CEO Dr. Brian Hoerneman said. “Our commitment to continually enhance the level of care we provide remains firmly in place as we look to the future.”

Marshfield Clinic said in October 2022 it was exploring a merger with Essentia. Last summer, the two entered an agreement to form a new regional health system spanning four states.

Members of the public were split at a fall public hearing in Duluth on the planned merger.

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