Mayo Clinic to Close Six Rural Clinics, Shift Surgeries in Albert Lea
ROCHESTER, MN – Mayo Clinic announced Monday evening the closure of six rural clinics across southeastern Minnesota, and a relocation of some elective outpatient surgeries from its Albert Lea hospital. The closures, impacting communities in north mankato, Belle plaine, Caledonia, Montgomery, St. Peter, and Wells, will take effect by December 10th.The Rochester-based health system cited declining staffing levels and patient volumes as the primary drivers behind the decision, and is currently notifying patients about options for continuing care at other Mayo facilities or alternative clinics.
According to Dr. Karthik Ghosh, vice president of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, some of the affected clinics had already been operating with limited hours due to staffing shortages – frequently enough with only one or two clinicians available. “If (the clinicians) are gone, the system shuts down,” dr. ghosh stated.”That’s not how it’s supposed to be. We need reliable care across our sites.”
The closures will require some patients to travel an additional 10 to 20 minutes to reach the nearest Mayo Clinic facility. Many patients already utilize multiple Mayo locations for thier care, and several of the closing clinics lacked on-site lab and imaging services, necessitating travel for those procedures.
The decision to move elective outpatient surgeries from Albert Lea to Austin and Waseca has sparked renewed criticism from local advocacy groups. Jennifer Vogt-Erickson, a member of Save Our Hospital, expressed disappointment, stating, ”That’s another big blow to Albert Lea.” She pointed to previous assurances from Mayo leaders in 2017, who justified earlier cuts by claiming outpatient surgery ”is the future” and would remain available in Albert Lea.
This latest move follows a 2013 consolidation of hospitals in Austin and Albert Lea, a decision that has been consistently challenged by community members concerned about access to local healthcare. While inpatient elective surgeries were previously moved to Austin, outpatient procedures in specialties like ophthalmology, orthopedics, endoscopy, and gynecology had continued to be performed in Albert Lea untill now.
The Mayo Clinic Health System operates a network of 16 hospitals and over 40 clinics throughout minnesota.
