Mayo Clinic is reportedly not in violation of a 1995 agreement between the hospital system and Naeve Health Care Association by deciding to transition most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin.

The news came during the third facilitated dialogue session attended by Albert Lea, Freeborn County and Mayo Clinic Health System representatives Friday to discuss the hospital system’s transition of most inpatient services to Austin. The session was led by retired Minnesota appellate judge David Minge.

According to a city press release following the meeting, “all agreed that although the agreement provided that Mayo would provide health care services to the community, there was no limit on Mayo’s flexibility in delivery of those services and that there was no requirement to provide specific services or at a specific location.”

“Participants in the dialogue meeting carefully reviewed the document and asked questions of Mayo’s attorney and staff,” according to the release. “Then they requested that (Freeborn County Attorney David Walker) review the agreement.”

Walker said he reviewed the document in the presence of a lawyer from Mayo’s legal office.

He said he did not see guarantees in the agreement regarding maintaining services or reduction of services in Albert Lea.

The agreement provided for Mayo’s ownership and operation of hospital services in Albert Lea.

Mayo reportedly said it had gone beyond its commitment in the agreement to invest in and improve hospital facility and equipment.

“Participants in the prior dialogue meeting had requested the agreement, and Mayo honored this request,” according to the release. “This document is business confidential and will not be made available outside of the facilitated dialogue.”

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said Wednesday the city recognizes it would probably take months to years for a second provider to enter the community and provide services that Mayo is transitioning to Austin.

To Adams, having a second health care provider provide full-service, acute-care services while Mayo still has a hospital in Albert Lea would be difficult.

The city is scheduled to meet with a possible second provider either late this month or the first part of February. Four alternative providers have expressed interest in locating to the community.

Minge said in the release he hopes facilitated dialogue sessions continue.

“Tough questions are being asked, forthright answers are being provided, and all hope that the mutual trust that is developing will result in continued progress of the facilitated dialogue undertaking,” he said in the release. 

The meeting reportedly also included discussion on the economic impact the transition will have on Albert Lea, as well as other details of the plan. Transportation services and assistance for Freeborn County residents, as well as Albert Lea community assistance to recruit and retain doctors and other health care specialists were also discussed.

The facilitated dialogue group plans to meet regularly in coming months, according to the release. The group reportedly agreed to set up working subgroups of Freeborn County residents, Mayo staff and regional officials and experts to review topic areas, which will initially consist of Mayo’s behavioral health initiative, the transition’s economic impact and outreach efforts.

The hospital system is the largest employer in Albert Lea and Freeborn County.

“It is important that we foster a positive working relationship between Mayo and the community and ensure that Albert Lea area residents continue to have the very best health care at all times,” Adams in the release.

Participants in the discussion included:

Albert Lea 1st Ward Councilor Rich Murray

Adams

District 5 Commissioner Mike Lee

Freeborn County Administrator Tom Jensen

Mayo Clinic Director of Community Engagement Erin Sexton

Mayo Clinic Health System southeastern Minnesota Regional Vice President Annie Sadosty

Mayo Clinic Health System southeastern Minnesota Chairman of Administration Doug Parks

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin CEO Mark Ciota

Associate administrator of Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin and Albert Lea Kris Johnson.