It is very evident that our county and city has lost control of one of the most important sectors of our lives: health care. It affects everyone in our community, and it is controlled by a giant corporation that has no concern about our community and little concern about patients who they should serve. They set the price we pay for health care and determine what services will be offered to our community.

How do we get our medical facilities and services back to the patient, the doctors and our community? Save Our Hospital is so important to our community because it reflects the attitude of the people in Albert Lea. Albert Lea should be proud of how our community has reacted. I am so proud to say I am from Albert Lea, a community that doesn’t give up. But will Mayo eventually win this battle, or is there something else we can do?

Yes! The county and city can jointly establish a Community Health Board. Minnesota Statute 145A.03 says that counties must do this, and the board should be at least five members with community representation. I believe it should be 11 people because that was promised to us by Mayo when we gave them our hospital.

What can or must a Community Healthcare Board do under the law 145A?

1. Complete an assessment of community health care needs and establish priorities based on its needs.

2. Maintain community health services.

3. Explore laws and regulations and ordinances pertaining to its powers and duties.

4. Recommend to the Minnesota Health Department and Legislature laws and regulations concerning health services and infrastructure in order to carry out its mission.

The Community Health Board has legislative authority. It represents the community and its needs. If we get back the control of our health care, it will be the community that determines what it needs and what it can afford.

Please talk to your county commissioner.

Alan Arends

Albert Lea