Next year MercyOne from Mason City will be opening a new medical clinic in the former Herberger’s site at Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea. The new facility will provide needed accessibility for medical services in addition to that already provided by Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

People in our community will now have a choice of where to go for their health care. They can stick with their present physician/provider or go to the new clinic. Choice is good to have when making important decisions.

I wish to address concerns about the new clinic raised in two previous letters to the editor by Sarah Stueven on Oct. 11 and Rita Moyer on Oct. 17. First, I thank them for their efforts. This space is too confined to address them all adequately.

Sarah is concerned what effect the parent companies of MercyOne might have on the new local clinic. They have not been involved and there is no indication they will be. She also states, “The Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition is already trying to get the county and city to increase our taxes to pay for Mercy.” There is some reason for her and others’ concern as it is not unusual for local governments to make provision for quality of life matters. There is not a line item for this in the city levy proposal and Freeborn County has made no financial commitment. If they do, and I think they should, it would be better than the situation where all the taxpayers in Minnesota funnel over half a billion dollars to Rochester to support Mayo Clinic. In addition, Rochester citizens are required to plunk down mega tax dollars for infrastructure to support Mayo. 

When making their health care insurance decisions, it is my understanding that local employers and employees are well informed of pros and cons, including costs, and which providers are in or out of network. This is the value of choice. Families may skip many pay periods without incurring a medical cost, but they will have a medical insurance deduction from every paycheck.

Rita, I am saddened you feel this is a “campaign against me.” The efforts of the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition are not about you or any other personnel at MCHS, who had no control over decisions made in Rochester. We all admire and respect the work that you, administrators, providers and staff do to deliver services for us in Albert Lea and surrounding communities. We fully expect this will continue. Judging by the length of time it takes to get an appointment at MCHS, it does not look like anyone will be losing their job.

William Buege

Albert Lea