The decision by Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin to move most inpatient services to Austin is being met with apprehension from local government officials.

Hospital leaders announced last week that over the next three years, the health system will move overnight hospitalization and intensive care unit stays, childbirths and major surgeries requiring hospitalization to the Austin campus.

“I think it’s terrible that we are going to lose our hospital,” said Freeborn County District 3 Commissioner Jim Nelson.

Nelson, chairman of the board, said he thinks Mayo Clinic’s decision will decrease the tax base of Albert Lea. He is concerned that if any employees lose their jobs as part of the transition, they will leave the community or take lower-paying jobs.

He said he does not think local government officials will be able to change Mayo Clinic’s decision.

“I think it’s been in their plans,” he said. “We can talk to them, but I don’t think it will do a bit of good.

“I just think it’s a bad deal.”

Nelson said Freeborn County could hire a couple nurses if they lose their jobs to help alleviate a shortage in the Public Health Department.

“That’s all we can hope for,” he said.

Both the Albert Lea and Austin locations will continue to provide emergency room, primary and specialty care, pregnancy care, and lab, pharmacy and other services. In addition, Albert Lea will also house the inpatient behavioral health care and addiction services, which leaders said would complement each other.

The first of the changes to take place will be moving the intensive care unit in Albert Lea to Austin in October.

Inpatient surgeries will move to Austin in January 2018, and the behavioral health center will move from Austin to Albert Lea in 2019. Labor and delivery services will be the last to relocate to Austin in late 2019 or early 2020.

According to a statement from Mayo Clinic, the hospital has a strong history in Albert Lea and is committed to being part of Albert Lea’s future.

“We know that changes in health care services in a rural community like Albert Lea can be difficult to understand, no matter what those changes are,” the statement reads. “We also know that it’s important to the vitality of any community to have quality health care like Mayo Clinic Health System to attract businesses and families. That’s why we are committed to keeping a high quality medical center in Albert Lea.”

According to the statement, the commitment includes maintaining outpatient surgeries, primary and specialty care, pregnancy care, wound care, and the Cancer Center, as well as lab, radiology and pharmacy services.

According to the hospital, making the transition is necessary.

“We must make changes now in how we deliver health care services to you to ensure we can continue to provide the services you need now and in the future,” the statement reads. “It’s no longer feasible to duplicate hospital services in closely neighboring communities like Albert Lea and Austin. Organizations that fail to respond to the changing health care environment often end up closing entire facilities, not just some services, and we certainly don’t want that to happen here. Thankfully, most people only need inpatient care a few times over the course of a lifetime. If and when you need that level of care, it will be available in your neighboring community of Austin. By proactively making these changes now, we are helping to preserve local health care in both Austin and Albert Lea for generations to come.”

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker said he is concerned whether people who have a critical need for surgery will be able to be treated in Albert Lea, noting every minute is crucial during a health emergency. He expressed concern over the potential impact the transition will have to small cities north, south and west of Albert Lea, and he asked if health insurance premiums would drop based on Mayo Clinic’s reasoning that the move would reduce duplicated services.

Mandie Siems, Mayo Clinic Health System public affairs associate, said though Mayo Clinic officials do everything they can to make health care affordable, premiums are set by insurance companies.

Baker expressed concern about how the transition will play out as local government entities attempt to attract new businesses, and he questioned why the hospital decided to consolidate inpatient services in Austin. 

“Not having an overnight facility, how is that going to weigh into a decision whether to come here or not?” he said.

“That concerns me, too.”

Baker said he was sure dialogue will take place between the city, county and Mayo Clinic Health System leaders, and he told the community not to panic.

“I’m not passing judgment on anybody, but I just have some concerns,” he said.

Baker said he expects Mayo’s decision to be discussed Thursday during a council work session.

“We’ll have to go from there,” he said.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen said he was disappointed with the hospital’s decision and declined further comment. He is employed as a physical therapist at the HealthReach campus of Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

Third Ward Councilor Jason Howland declined comment due to his employment in public affairs at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. 

Freeborn County District 1 Commissioner Glen Mathiason said he is disappointed in the decision. According to what he has heard about the situation, the move will not have such a large effect on the community because services that were not offered in Albert Lea before will now be available, he said.

Mathiason expressed concern about the possible impact Mayo Clinic’s planned Destination Medical Center project in Rochester will have on Albert Lea.

“I am just a little concerned they are trying to move everything to Rochester,” he said.

Mathiason said he was sure the transition is a “corporate decision,” noting he would support the board discussing sending the hospital a letter asking the hospital to reconsider the decision.

“It’s something we should probably discuss,” he said, noting the discussion could take place at today’s board meeting.