The integration is official.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin announced the integration of the two sites into one, legal entity effective New Year’s Day. The name for the new organization is Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea and Austin.

The integration follows an 18-month process that began with boards of trustees from each site appointing a joint Albert Lea and Austin committee tasked with evaluating aspects of integration before making a recommendation to each board.

After thorough analysis of local health care needs, health care reform projections, stakeholder discussions and legal and financial considerations, the committee recommended full integration of the two organizations, according to a Mayo Clinic Health System news release. Each board unanimously approved the recommendation, which has been similarly endorsed by the appropriate Mayo Clinic approving bodies.

Led by Dr. Mark Ciota, CEO, the overarching goal of the new, integrated organization is to increase value for patients and the community by adding services and specialties that neither organization could support on its own, the news release states.

Officials are hoping that the integration results in more efficient workplaces. Albert Lea and Austin departments come together to reduce redundancies in work so they can more closely focus on identified quality, safety and services priorities, the news release states. According to officials, further integration benefits could include:

• Easier, more effective implementation of best practices, protocols and practices identified by Mayo Clinic.

• Sharing expensive technology and equipment should contribute to expense management to help slow down the spiraling cost of health.

• A more functional framework for increasing efficiency and preparing for health care reform.

Staff members in Albert Lea, Austin and regional locations have been working to consolidate departments and department leadership for the last several months. Work continues as clinical departments come together and best practices are adopted for care delivery and business practices.