Results of Albert Lea hospital study to be released at Tuesday public meeting

Published 2:02 pm Friday, December 1, 2017

Quorum Health Resources LLC. is expected to present the results of its study into the feasibility of a full-service, acute-care hospital in Albert Lea during a public meeting Tuesday at the Albert Lea High School auditorium.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The organization is expected to present its findings to the community and local government boards.

The study has taken place while local representatives and the hospital system remain at odds over Mayo Clinic Health System’s plan to transition most inpatient services to Austin.

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The moving of the intensive care unit was the first part of Mayo Clinic Health System’s transition of most inpatient services. Inpatient surgeries are expected to move to Austin in January, and the behavioral health center will move from Austin to Albert Lea in 2019. Medical and surgical hospitalization is expected to transition to Austin in early 2019, and labor and delivery services will be the last to relocate to Austin in late 2019 or early 2020.

The city signed a maximum $75,000 contract in early October with Quorum. The cost was evenly split between the city, Freeborn County and Save Our Hospital organization.

Local officials have stated a finding that the hospital can be profitable could be used to bring a second health care provider to the community and only after the hospital system refused to delay its planned transition of most inpatient services to Austin.

Mayo Clinic spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said Friday it was difficult to comment because the hospital system has not seen the report.

“I want to emphasize Mayo Clinic is committed to our patients and to the Albert Lea community,” she said. “We are honored to be this community’s long-term health care provider, and we intend to be here for future generations.

“It is not Mayo’s decision as to whether other providers come to Albert Lea, but Mayo Clinic’s medical center in Albert Lea is not for sale.” 

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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