Photo: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
The Mayo Clinic has announced it is closing six clinics in Minnesota and curtailing surgery procedures at the Albert Lea hospital and clinic.
The clinics being closed are located south and west of the main campus of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, Minnesota.
Clinical services in Belle Plaine, Caledonia, Montgomery, Northridge (North Mankato), St. Peter and Wells will consolidate with nearby Mayo Clinic locations by Dec. 10, the health system said.
"Our top priority is ensuring you continue to receive reliable, high-quality care, often with your same provider, at another MCHS clinic," according to a Mayo Clinic statement.
A map released by the Mayo Clinic shows four standalone clinics in the area where four of the clinics are being closed. In addition, 10 combined hospitals and clinics in Minnesota located around the clinics are closing.
The La Crosse hospital and clinic on the border in Wisconsin is located near the Caledonia clinic that is closing, with two standalone clinics in Wisconsin just to the north.
Patients will receive more information about their provider's future location within the next four weeks.
"We understand travel is a concern. That's why we're committed to helping you transition to the closest, most convenient MCHS site possible, while also offering options like Primary Care On Demand and same-day appointments to reduce unnecessary travel," Mayo Clinic said.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Mayo Clinic cited staffing shortages and smaller patient volumes for the consolidation that is part of a broader effort to strengthen care delivery across its communities.
Albert Lea is ending elective surgeries and procedures in orthopedics, podiatry, endoscopy, ophthalmology and gynecology and moving them to the Austin and Waseca campuses. Outpatient surgical evaluations, consultations and pre- and post-operative care will still be conducted in Albert Lea, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
THE LARGER TREND
Between 2017 and 2024, MCHS closed at least 17 clinics across the Upper Midwest. In 2017, four years after the Austin and Albert Lea hospitals merged into one entity, MCHS moved most of Albert Lea's inpatient services to the Austin campus, according to the Twin Cities report.
Mayo Clinic Health System has a physical presence in 39 communities in four regions in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This includes 16 hospitals, 45 multispecialty clinics and one mobile health clinic.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org