Milwaukee Area Urgent Care Hospitals To Close Temporarily Over Staff Shortage

MILWAUKEE, WI — Advocate Aurora Health temporarily closed three urgent care centers in the Milwaukee area because of staff shortages and an influx of COVID-19 patients, officials said Wednesday.

Urgent care centers in Menomonee Falls, Brookfield and on River Center Drive in Milwaukee temporarily closed, the health system said in a statement.

The health system bought full-page ads Monday in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Press-Gazette asking people to fight the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, getting boosted and wearing a mask in public.

"It's up to all of us to help," the health system said. "Because if we don't, it's going to get even harder for you and your family and friends to get help when you need it most."

The health system didn't mention staff shortages when it announced closures Wednesday, but it called the strain on health care workers "undeniable" in Monday's ad.

There were 1,712 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state Tuesday, Wisconsin Hospital Association data showed. There were 67 intensive care unit beds available.