NOVEMBER 2017
Save Our HOSpital! prOtect GOOd JObS!
As Mayo executives continue to take away rural healthcare options, they also are working to erode jobs that provide decent living for families in our community. We work hard — many of us have decades of experience — to make sure our hospital runs well for patients and our community. We stand united to Save Our Hospital and stop Mayo from undercutting good jobs for Albert Lea.
albert lea deServeS better!
Mayo's Practices and Hospital Closure Harm Our Businesses • • • • •
This is reality............
Means 15-30% higher health care premiums than other businesses across MN Hinders ability to recruit employees & new businesses Decreases everyones property values Increases transportation time & cost Continues to eliminate positions & services, which has a negative multiplier effect on community
A new provider is needed to..... • Keep essential medical care local • Provide high quality health care at fair costs for employers • Provide jobs, which create additional jobs through a ripple effect on economy
Committee Members and Steering Committee
Co-Chairs
Brad Arends & Mariah Lynne
Secretary
Andrea Jensen, Chair and Jeanine Anderson, Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Rachel Christensen, Chair and Becky Tennis Hanson, Vice-Chair
Advisors Communications Political
Second Provider Historian Research & Legal
Fundraising
Public Relations
Local Organizer
Paul Overgaard and Jay Armstrong Joel Erickson, Chair and Jody Kirshner, Vice-Chair Jerry Collins, Chair Vicki Pestorious, Jim and Louann Stoen, Paul Stieler, Bill Stieler, Mike and Andrea Jensen, Kathy and Dave Hanson, Teresa Nicholson, Annie Mattson Craig Ludtke, Chair Dave Christensen & Ken Petersen Daphne Hamborg, Chair Donna White & Gary Wichmann Dr. Bill Buege and Linda Pederson, Co-Chairs Nancy Jones, Andrea Jensen, Neal Skaar, Breanna Munson, Darryl Meyer, Jane Loge, Ginny Thompson, Connie Wadding, Joanne Hanson, Sally Benson, Cynthia Gail, Carol Gordon, Rachel Christensen, Mary Ellen Johnson, Paul Overgaard, Abby Leach Al Arends, Chair Bev Grotsun, Linda Ferguson, Kathy Wrolson, Donnell Haukoos, Sandy Nelson, Jean Skaar, Linda Bryan, Joyce Hove, Barb Callahan, Donna White, Ann Satre, Clemencia Gujral, Annie Mattson Jean Eaton, Chair and Jennifer Vogt Erickson, Vice-Chair Glen Parsons, Becky Tennis Hanson, Don Sorenson, Linda Crofton, Wendy Hagen, Joan Graham,Georgiann Quinn, Danielle Schipper, Jane Kepple Johnson Tabloid support: Jeff Thorstad, Layout/Design; Tom Mullen; Dan Borland, Don Sorenson, Pictures; Jane Kepple Johnson, Editor Angie Hanson, Chair and Jan Mattson, Vice-Chair Donnell Haukoos, Jean Skaar, Barb Callahan, Diane Hanson, Annie Mattson, Jan Hickman, Jane Maiden, Karen & Tony Trow, Don & Eleanor Sorensen, Mary Hinnenkamp, Joyce Hove, Ann Satre, Sandy Nelson, Eileen Woyen, Mary Carstens, Mary Ann Martinson, Jill Morstad, Donna White, Beth Isaacson, Linda Bryan, Joyce Lowman, Donna White, Beth Isaacson, Linda Bryan, Joyce Lowman Sharon Meyer, Shari Anderson, Marilyn Danielsen, Carol Bybee, Mary Umstead, Ruth Olson, Kelli Tiegs
BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY MATTERS Hometown Family Owned Since 1926!
Produce State Bank 109 W. Park Ave. Hollandale (507) 889-4311 220 E. William St. Albert Lea (507) 373-5500 2401 Brige Ave. Albert Lea (507) 373-8600 Member
FDIC
WHY WE SUPPORT SAVE OUR HOSPITAL • Winnebago & Worth Counties have no inpatient hospital. • Our residents utilize regional hospitals in Albert Lea, MN and Mason City, IA. • Worth County has 1 medical clinic to serve pop. of approx. 7,500. • Winnebago County has 4 medical clinics to serve pop. of approx. 10,800 and a large commuting workforce into the county from S. MN/N. IA. • Worth County contracts for ambulance care, outside the county limits. There is no local service. • Winnebago County has 3 volunteer ambulance services all struggling to maintain membership. One service provides 24/7 365 days/year paramedic coverage and is located on the county’s southern border. • Our region’s citizens will drive min. 30-35 miles
for inpatient hospital services if those services are not in Albert Lea (using Emmons as a center-point for our region). • Our residents, and those in Freeborn County, will be at a disadvantage in critical care situations where the ‘Golden Hour’ means the difference between life and death. Patients will die because of consolidation of services – not ‘maybe’ or ‘if’, but rather ‘when’. • Our region will be the largest population in MN without inpatient services – and one of the largest nationwide – as the Albert Lea hospital serves a pop. of approx. 55,000 citizens in IA and MN. • Due to no competition in our region for Mayo, our residents and businesses are being gouged up to 30% more for coverage/services in the Mayo network versus other outside area providers. If pricing was competitive, our
businesses and residents would realize cost savings that could be spent on other things. • Healthcare careers are high skill/high pay. We want to recruit MORE of them, not lose those jobs. • Recruiting new businesses or expanding businesses to a region without a full service acute care hospital in Albert Lea will be much more difficult. Healthcare choices, options, and proximity DO matter when a company is considering locations for their business and their employees. Our area businesses and citizens matter, and we have a voice that needs to be heard in the debate surrounding rural health care. WE STAND WITH SAVE OUR HOSPITAL FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS AND BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
Teresa Nicholson, Executive Director, Winn-Worth Betco (Winnebago-Worth Counties Betterment Council) PO Box 93, 203 A N. 1st Ave. West, Lake Mills, IA 50450 641-592-0800, 641-592-0801 fax, 641-590-3590 cell, wwb@wctatel.net
Mission Statement and Core Values Our mission is to maintain a full service acute care hospital in Albert Lea to serve the surrounding communities in our area. We Are: Inclusive · We collaborate.
· Inclusive of our community, other communities, other groups, and other ideas.
Trustworthy
· Trust the goodness of intention. · Fact, not fiction. · Accountable for our words and actions.
Informative
· A hub for information relative to our mission. · Educational in our approach with all. · We will share our story and inform the nation.
Respectful
· Of our community, other communities, other groups, and other ideas. · Of our local medical professionals and all providers. · No smearing - no swerving.
Committed
· To the betterment of our group, our community and our goal. · To doing the right thing in representation of our community.
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As the Heartbeat of our Community, we must Save our Hospital.
Initiative Information and How to Support • Care for our Moms and Babies • Care for our Very Sick • Care for our Retirees and Elderly WHAT IS HAPPENING? If you or your family members need a hospital stay, intensive care, or baby delivery, you won’t have those services in Albert Lea. Mayo Clinic is closing inpatient services at Albert Lea’s hospital. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOU AND OUR COMMUNITIES? • Baby delivery no longer available. • Inpatient surgery and stay no longer available. • Intensive care no longer available. • Increased driving for medical care - extra time could be lifethreatening • Increased personal transportation costs for area citizens, nursing home residents and Mayo employees. • Increased costs for ambulance rides. • Hardship for our elderly and their families. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MAYO’S DECISION WILL BE DEVASTATING. If medical services decrease, the health and prosperity of the community decreases. Albert Lea will experience loss of jobs, economic vitality, home values, and education support. For the retention and attraction of industrial firms, businesses, and retirees, it is crucial that Albert Lea maintain a full-service hospital. Mayo did not conduct an economic impact analysis of their planned hospital changes on Albert Lea. MAYO IS OFFERING LESS FOR MORE. Freeborn County already pays the highest health insurance rates in the state, due to Mayo’s higher prices. A family of four in Freeborn County pays about 15% more for health insurance than in Waseca County and nearly 30% more than in Hennepin County. Now Mayo wants to move vital health services farther away from our communities. WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE HOSPITAL CLOSURE? YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR FRIENDS! • 65,000 people in multiple counties. • Seniors, who are 22% of Freeborn County’s population and growing. • Albert Lea’s hospital is the only hospital in Freeborn, Worth, and Winnebago counties.
WHAT CAN I DO? JOIN OUR LIFE-SAVING CAUSE. • Attend SOH meetings. Public meetings are held Sundays at 6pm at the American Legion in Albert Lea. • Put an SOH sign in your yard. • Write a letter to: Dr. John Noseworthy, President and CEO and Mr. Jeff Bolton, Chief Administrative Officer Mayo Clinic 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN 55905
Share a personal story of what Albert Lea’s hospital means to you and your family. HOLD MAYO TO ITS PROMISES. • Mayo’s stated primary value is “The patient is the focus of everything we do.” The needs of the patient come first. • In 1995, Mayo promised to preserve a governing board with local control and not cut any services or transfer funds without its approval. • One of Mayo’s core values is stewardship. “We remain dedicated in supporting local community vibrancy and economic development.” -Jeff Bolton, Chief Administrative Officer, Mayo Clinic. MEDICAL CARE IS NOT ICE CREAM.
“Twenty-three miles...not what you would choose. But come on, folks. People are driving 23 miles to get their favorite ice cream. People are driving 23 miles to go shopping.” -Dr. Bobbi Gostout, Vice President, Mayo Clinic Save Our Hospital (SOH) is a grassroots group of citizens from Albert Lea and surrounding communities who share a commitment to keeping a full-service, acute care hospital in Albert Lea. Our mission is endorsed by Albert Lea City Council, Freeborn County Commissioners, Albert Lea School Board, and Albert Lea Economic Development Agency. E-mail us at sohinalbertlea@gmail.com
To Donate:
Write checks to “Save Our Hospital” and mail to: SOH, P.O. Box 285, Albert Lea, MN 56007.
Name: Address: Email: Contributions are tax-deductible.
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507.438.2898 | sen.dan.sparks@senate.com
Important Contact Information
We encourage you to continue to contact people on this list to support our efforts. Federal Representatives State Elected Officials
Senator Amy Klobuchar (612) 727-5220 Senator Al Franken (651) 221-1016 Representative Tim Walz (507) 388-2149 Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith: (651) 201-3400 Attorney General Lori Swanson (651) 296-3353 State Senator Dan Sparks (651) 296-9248 State Representative Peggy Bennett (651) 296-8216
House Health and Human Services Finance Committee
Chair, Rep. Matt Dean (651) 296-3018 Vice-Chair, Rep. Tony Albright (651) 296-5185 DFL Lead, Rep. Erin Murphy (651) 296-8799
House Health and Human Services Reform Committee
Chair, Rep. Joe Schomacker (651) 296-5505 Vice-Chair, Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (651) 296-4229 DFL Lead, Rep. Tina Liebling (651) 296-0573
House Commerce and Regulatory Reform
Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee Additional Legislative Contacts State Agencies
Chair, Rep. Joe Hoppe (651) 296-5066 Vice-Chair, Rep. Kelly Fenton (651) 296-1147 DFL Lead, Rep. Linda Slocum (651) 296-7158 Rep. Greg Davids (651) 296-9278 Chair, Sen. Michelle Benson (651) 296-3219 Vice-Chair, Sen. Scott Jenson (651) 296-4837 Ranking DFLer, Sen. Tony Lourey (651) 296-0293 Sen. Jim Abeler (651) 296-3733 Chair, Sen. Gary Dahms (651) 296-8138 Vice-Chair, Sen. Karin Housley (651) 296-4351 Ranking DFLer, Sen. Dan Sparks (see above)
Rep. Paul Thissen (651) 296-5375 - Keynote speaker at SOH Rally for Rural Healthcare
Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Health Commissioner (651) 201-5810 Emily Piper, Human Services Commissioner (651) 431-2907 Mike Rothman, Commerce Commissioner (651) 539-1441
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MrsGerrys_SaveOurHospital.indd 1
10/24/2017 10:21:37 AM
2201 Stevens Street Albert Lea, MN 56007
Letters from the Co-Chairs WHY DID I WANT TO BE THE CO-CHAIR OF THIS ORGANIZATION?
Mariah Lynne
Save Our Hospital Co-Chair
I accepted the nomination of co-chair because I believe in the vibrant future of our community and am dedicated to the longevity and well-being of my forever home, Freeborn County. Like several Albert Lea graduates, after high school (class of 1999) I went on to further my education and spread my wings in a larger city. I earned my college degree in Marketing from Minnesota State University, Mankato and began my working career in the Twin Cities metro area. I spent several years in the Cities, establishing a successful career and purchasing my first home. Life was good – but it felt impersonal. I quickly learned that the convenience of the metro shopping scene and the vibrate nightlife was over-shadowed by the lack of personal accountability and responsibility to society that I felt back home in Albert Lea. Moreover, I watched my boss, Jill, tend to the needs of her terminally ill mother for 18-months. When Jill’s mother passed, I attempted to comfort her but admitted to the fact that my experience with personal loss was limited. She accepted my sympathy and made a profound statement; she said, “Mariah, I was so focused, for the majority of life, on proving myself to be a successful independent woman away from my parents and home that – in the end – I spent more time watching my mother die than I ever did watching her live.” By the end of the next week I had submitted my letter of resignation and began looking for a career and home in Albert Lea. What drew me home was not only Jill’s eye-opening statement and the desire to experience my parents’ vibrant lives through adult eyes, but the realization that I wanted to live in a community filled with concerned citizens that held one another, and leaders, accountable for their actions. Since returning, I’ve volunteered on the boards of several community initiatives and found great personal value in serving our area. To me, Save Our Hospital truly epitomized the concept of personal/ community accountability. Rather than adhering to the directives of outside forces, this group of committed citizens was rallying to stand up for the needs of our community and to fight for the future of Albert Lea and our surrounding communities. Since accepting the position in June, I’ve had the pleasure of watching community members across all walks of life, party lines, and core beliefs, join together to fight for our area in unity. Although the hours are long and the work is hard, this is a movement of the people that I am proud to be a part of – and honored to lead.
SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR SOH?
Brad Arends
Save Our Hospital Co-Chair
Save Our Hospital was formed with one mission – To Maintain a Full Service Acute Care Hospital in Albert Lea. Toward this end, we have been working since June with both the City and County in an attempt to convince Mayo to reconsider the transfer of ICU, inpatient, and birthing services out of our hospital in Albert Lea. Mayo has not only refused to negotiate, but they have also refused to delay their timeline, even though their promised economic and health impact analysis on the community of Albert Lea and surrounding area has yet to be delivered. We remain steadfast in our mission, so must look for other non-Mayo alternatives. With guidance from the Minnesota Attorney General, we have hired an experienced health care consultant to put together a proforma of what a hospital would look like in Albert Lea without Mayo. In essence, one can think of this as a business plan to determine whether a full service, acute care hospital can be profitable in Albert Lea if it were run by someone other than Mayo. In support of this effort, we have researched other rural non-Mayo hospitals similar to ours in Albert Lea, and have found several that are successful. So, contrary to what Mayo has been preaching about rural health care, we know a rural facility can recruit staff, deliver great medical care, and run profitably. We have also been in contact with numerous alternative medical systems regarding their interest in possibly running our hospital here in Albert Lea. They all are eagerly awaiting a look at our proforma business plan. The City and the County are also exploring possible municipal alternatives for our hospital. In addition, one of the alternative medical systems is coming to Albert Lea later this month to meet with SOH, the City, and the County about establishing a new clinic in Albert Lea. There is much yet to be done. Save Our Hospital has developed both a three month and a 2018 action plan. We have been successful in achieving both public and political support. We are passionate and committed to our community, our citizens, and our mission.
THaNK YoU to tHoSE WHo SPoNSoRED tHE SAVE oUR HoSPItAL MAGAZINE Gold ProGram Carol Smith
Forrie & gretChen ClauSSen
paul overgaarD
al arenDS
roger & Dorie hanna
allen & Deb brown
kent & Sue erlanDSon
Caroline neale
mark & lexie light
Johnn & nanCy Sorlie
DaviD & linDa peDerSon
robert & angie hoFFman
omer & maxine hamer
Steve & Joann SChwartz
JameS & marlyS broberg
Silver ProGram Jan mattSon
Carol gorDon
gary moeller
braD & JoDy kirChner
DaviD & Shari klatt
Information on Successful Small Hospitals Submitted Article
The stated goal of the Save Our Hospital is to ensure that Albert Lea maintains a full service acute care hospital. From the stated goals, two questions arise. The first question is why other similarly sized communities with quality health care providers are profitable in their health care systems, while Albert Lea is supposedly losing money. The second is why and how should Albert Lea consider engaging an alternative health care provider to offer health care services in Albert Lea. The most recent public information for non-profit health care systems is the IRS Form 990 reporting data from 2015 (the 2016 data will be available in November of 2017). Examples from three health care systems in Minnesota that are regionally similar to Albert Lea and are examples of profitable health care systems are Essentia in Brainerd/Baxter, Northfield Hospitals and Clinics, and Winona Health Services. The Mayo Albert - Austin Health System generated $306.1 mil. in revenue, net of investment revenue and after expenses, lost $4.8 mil. in 2015, and supposedly lost even more money in 2016. Based on statements from Mayo’s local executives that patient census numbers are approximately equal between the two campuses, one could infer that Albert Lea by itself is generating one-half of the $306.1 mil. revenue equal to $153 mil. and one-half of the loss equal to $2.4 mil. By comparison, Essentia in Brainerd/Baxter generated $200.1 mil. in revenue, and after expenses, generated a profit of $7.0 mil. in 2015, and had an even larger profit in 2016. Northfield Hospitals and Clinics had revenue of $91.1 mil. and after expenses made a profit of $3.2 mil. in 2015. Winona Health Services generated $113.9 mil. in revenue and after expenses showed a profit of $2.4 mil. All three have city populations that are relatively similar, especially since Albert Lea draws patients from two northern Iowa counties as well. What is perplexing about Mayo Albert Lea – Austin’s data is that according to the MN Community Measurement 2016 Cost & Utilization Report, Albert/Austin’s total cost of care (i.e. Mayo revenue) in 2015 was 28% higher than the state average, yet Mayo claims it still loses money. As a result of Mayo’s higher fees, employer-based health insurance for an identical health insurance policy in Freeborn County is 22% higher than in Scott County (Lakeville, MN area) because of the higher cost of health care in the Mayo System. The City of Albert Lea, Freeborn County, and Save Our Hospital have engaged Quorum Health to perform an independent pro-forma health system profitability study to determine if the Albert Lea campus could be operated profitably if a different health system provider, with a different management approach and lower cost structure, were to operate the facility. The group will use the resulting information from that study as a base for decisions on the next steps to take. Assuming the study is positive, one solution is to bring in an alternative health care provider to restore lost services and also increase service options, while at the same time lowering the cost of health care to patients in the Freeborn, Worth, and Winnebago county areas surrounding Albert Lea. The group has identified interested providers and is currently in discussions with them.
Information on Insurance Rates in Minnesota WHY OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE SO HIGH IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA?
Brad Arends
Save Our Hospital Co-Chair
South eastern Minnesota has the highest health insurance premiums in the state. For example, for a married couple ages 43 and 41, with two children both under the age of 20, the cost for a $1,500 deductible policy with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota is $2,028.73 per month if they live in Albert Lea, $1,582.83 if they live in Minneapolis, and $1732.57 if they live in Duluth. We tend to blame this on the insurance companies; but our cost for health insurance reflects the expected medical bills the insurance companies will pay on our behalf. In fact, health insurance companies actually go to hospitals and clinics and negotiate discounts on medical services in an attempt to keep our health insurance premiums affordable. So why does a family in Albert Lea pay almost $5,400 per year more than a similar family in the Twin Cities for the same policy? The answer is… we get our medical care from Mayo, which effectively has a monopoly in south eastern Minnesota. Consequently, Mayo refuses to negotiate the same discounts with the health insurance companies in Minnesota, as the other medical systems do. For example, according to the Minnesota Community Measurement 2016 Cost & Utilization Report, the average cost for a knee X-ray in Minnesota was $58, but we paid $128; and the average cost for a knee MRI was $645, but we paid $2,777. In fact, the Total Cost of Care averaged $474 per patient per month in Minnesota, but in south east Minnesota it averaged $577. When Save Our Hospital confronted Mayo officials about this issue, we were told that “world class health care costs more.” Is there such a thing today as a “world class” knee X-ray or MRI? Is a Mayo X-ray or MRI really that much better than Allina’s, Fairview’s, Park Nicollet’s, or the University of Minnesota’s? Can the citizens of south eastern Minnesota afford to go to Mayo?
Information on Economic Impact to Our Region ALBERT LEA HOSPITAL’S IMPACT ON THE REGION…
Teresa Nicholson Executive Director Winn-Worth Betco
On June 12th, I was in the Winn-Worth Betco (Winnebago-Worth Counties Betterment Council) office in Lake Mills, IA, and received notification from a Facebook friend of a Minnesota Nurse’s Association’s press release regarding proposed changes to the hospital in Albert Lea by Mayo Health Care System. I then found the Mayo press release an hour later regarding the plans. My first thought was How is this going to impact our region, the entire region including Albert Lea, Freeborn County, and Winnebago & Worth Counties in Iowa? I was born and raised in Scarville, IA (population under 100), attended school in Lake Mills, college at Waldorf College in Forest City. I’ve spent countless hours at the Freeborn County Fair, at restaurants, theaters, stores, and the mall in Albert Lea, at the lake, and feel as if Albert Lea is part of my home too. I was born at Naeve Hospital. My sister, brother, and parents were born there. My children were born at Naeve. My family has utilized the Mayo Clinic Health System our entire lives. I have family, friends and acquaintances who are employed at the clinic and hospital. My role as executive director for the economic development office serving Winnebago & Worth Counties, Winn-Worth Betco, ensured this issue would receive immediate attention due to these reasons: 1) Winnebago & Worth Counties have no in-patient hospital. There is 1 medical clinic in Worth County (Northwood), and 4 clinics in Winnebago County (Buffalo Center, Forest City, and 2 in Lake Mills – 1 Mayo and 1 Mercy). The nearest hospitals to the majority of our residents are Mercy Hospital in Mason City and Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. 2) Winnebago County has 3 volunteer ambulance services with dedicated, fantastic members, but only one service provides 24/7 365 day/yr paramedic coverage, and that service is on the south side of the county. 3) Worth County has no ambulance service. The county contracts with Mason City Fire & Rescue to provide ambulance service and transport. 4) Time & distance to full service, acute care hospitals are critical to positive patient outcomes and patient survival and makes ambulance transport to the nearest facility more critical. The “Golden Hour” is more important when the nearest hospital is more than 25 miles away…and you may wait potentially up to 35-45 minutes for an ambulance. 5) Healthcare jobs are high skill/high pay. Losses of those jobs will have significant impact on an area. We want more of healthcare jobs, not fewer. Since June 12, I attended the public forum at Albert Lea High School, and I’ve become involved with the Save Our Hospital Committee and attend Sunday 6 pm meetings at the American Legion in Albert Lea. I have spoken with local, state, and federal legislators (MN & IA) regarding rural healthcare and the changes with the hospital. I’ve gathered letters of support for the Save Our Hospital Committee’s efforts from all 14 communities in Winnebago & Worth Counties, from our county boards of supervisors in Winnebago & Worth Counties, and various other agencies and businesses including EMS, fire departments, and law enforcement. The care provided by doctors, nurses, and staff of Mayo is not in question. What is in question is Mayo’s management of rural health care facilities. They claim they’re losing money at Albert Lea & Austin and are “consolidating services” to ensure viability into the future. We don’t believe that to be true. We believe it’s possible to provide rural health care and make money, because other health care providers are already doing it. Mayo may be unable to accomplish this because their business model doesn’t work for rural healthcare. To be in the Mayo network, insurance rates are as much as 30% higher than others. Mayo has a stranglehold on SE MN, so there are no other options for healthcare; they’ve proven they are gouging our businesses and families to make profits. Mayo sees profits as being more important than patient care, which is not the principle the institution was founded upon. This issue is vital for our region, and one that will have long-lasting, significant impacts. It may not seem like a problem to travel to the hospital in Austin for some area residents until you or someone you love needs in-patient care from a full service acute care hospital as soon as possible. I think about my family, friends, neighbors, businesses I work with, and their employees, and I think about all those who are part of the Save Our Hospital Committee. What happens to all of them when there’s a blizzard and the interstate is shut down and ambulances can’t get to Austin or Rochester? What happens to them when there’s an accident and it takes the ambulance 25 minutes to arrive, and they’re still 35 miles from Austin, and the Golden Hour is gone? People die. That’s what happens. Your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers die. That’s the sad reality, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We fight to ensure there is access to healthcare in a free marketplace where costs are competitive, and the consumer has choices for services. We take a stand to make sure we aren’t statistics, but that every life matters. Can you put a price on someone’s life? There is no amount of money that will take the place of any person. We invite all of you to work with us and do what’s right for our region, for today’s citizens and tomorrow’s generations. Join our fight today and it may be your life or your loved one’s life you help save.
History of the Hospital in Albert Lea It is difficult to appreciate Mayo Clinic since their shocking announcement to move in-patient care to Austin. Admittedly one should take note that without Mayo’s support over the years, Albert Lea might not have had such a fine clinic and hospital, cutting-edge technology, and an excellent, dedicated medical staff. The following history of the clinic and hospital in Albert Lea will allow one to see the way the community’s issues with Mayo have come about.
Residents of Albert Lea and the surrounding area have enjoyed a high level of hospital and outpatient medical care for many years. It began when the home of Theodore and Dorothea Naeve was donated to be used as a hospital in 1905. Later $21,000 was raised locally in just two days to help build a 40-bed hospital. Three more expansions were completed over the next 90 years. All were paid for by generous local donations and proceeds from the hospital. In 1974, $5 million was raised locally to build a new hospital just behind the original building with its two additions. During this time, the number of physicians in the thriving community increased. Medical partnerships were formed which eventually resulted in two similar clinics in Albert Lea locally known as the “East” and the “West” clinics. Both were composed of a balanced staff of primary and surgical specialties with excellent support personnel. They functioned well in friendly competitive cooperation.
Dr. Bill Buege
Save Our Hospital Research and Legal Co-Chair
The doctors provided up-to-date out-patient care in the clinics and 24-hour inpatient and emergency care in the hospital. Excellent medical care was also provided by 10-12 physicians in surrounding communities who also referred patients to Naeve Hospital when in-patient care was needed. The doctors, nurses, and other staff members ensured their patients received the best possible care.
In 1985 the two local clinics and surrounding doctors merged to form the Albert Lea Regional Medical Group PA (ALRMG). Outpatient medical care was provided in the two Albert Lea clinics and the six surrounding satellite clinics in Alden, New Richland, Kiester, Wells, Lake Mills, and Northwood in Iowa.
These were golden years. Patients had their choice of doctors in convenient locations. Doctors, nurses, and qualified staff took care of patients’ medical needs and the office personnel and administrators took are of the business needs. All staff in the clinics and hospital were more than qualified and enjoyed caring for their patients. In order to continue providing the best medical care possible for their patients in a world of rapidly progressing technology, the ALRMG followed the national trend of affiliating with a large medical center by joining the Mayo Clinic in 1995. After much discussion, the hospital followed in 1996, forming the Albert Lea Medical Center-Mayo Health System. Loss of autonomy was the main concern of the hospital board. Mayo promised continuation of full hospital services, supply of physicians, and a new clinic building. Because no money was exchanged and the deal was brokered in December, a Naeve official commented, “Mayo got a nice Christmas present.”
Subsequently Mayo and Naeve Hospital Care Association (NHCA) split and cost of a new clinic building attached to the hospital—2/3 paid by Mayo and 1/3 paid by NHCA. Now, they felt, all the doctors and staffs of both the hospital and clinic could work together under one roof. The executive officers of the clinic and hospital were assured by Mayo that jobs would be secure and hospital and clinic services would be maintained. However, shortly thereafter, both officers were terminated. Mayo’s chief negotiating official named himself president and chairman of the Board of Directors. A local physician was made CEO. A Chief Financial Officer from Rochester was hired. Mayo insisted that the “Naeve” name be removed from the hospital but allowed it to be used for the Naeve Foundation and Naeve Auxiliary, two very active and important organizations. During the planning and construction of the new clinic building, it became clear that Mayo was exercising its upper hand. Decisions were being made from Rochester and suggestions and questions from Albert Lea were being ignored. Following the merger, “A lot of time and effort were expended melding the Mayo and Albert Lea cultures—there was a learning curve of how to do things the “Mayo Way.’” Employee morale began to sink more than expected. However this did not adversely affect patient care, and over the years, more specialty services became available and patient volume increased. Two floors and a new enlarged entrance were added in 2008. Most of the cost was borne by the medical center, but $2 million was donated locally.
Patients and staff greatly appreciated the new clinic building, but grumbling was noted, mainly because staff members thought too many decisions were made remotely from Rochester by someone “who didn’t know what was going on in Albert Lea.” Doctors complained they were being controlled too tightly and patients began complaining of limited access to appointments. However, patients were satisfied with the treatment they received and enjoyed the surroundings of the remodeled clinic. Little notice was made in 2013 when the Albert Lea and Austin Medical Centers were legally combined. No one knew what a pivotal point this would be for a future development. The new corporation became Mayo Healthcare System/Albert Lea-Austin. The sole member (owner) of the corporation was Mayo Clinic. Many patients in Albert Lea have reason to be upset because so many doctors have left town. Administration has stated some “did not fit” and others left for personal reasons. Yet the most common reason listed by physicians for their departure was “problems with administration.” From their own perspective, Mayo does have good reason for their action. Unfortunately, it is mostly financial and shows little regard for people, our community and our strong history of dedication to our hospital.
SOH Timeline 4 Months of Success June July
August
September
October
June 12 - Albert Lea community learns of Mayo’s planned consolidation of Albert Lea and Austin campuses June 29 - Approximately 700 attend Community Forum held at Albert Lea High School July 5 - First Save Our Hospital (SOH) planning meeting held in City Chambers July 6 - Second planning meeting held at Grace Christian Church July 9 - Third planning meeting held at Grace Christian Church July 10 - Albert Lea City Council agrees to support SOH efforts July 16 - SOH organizational meeting held at American Legion; officers elected and subcommittees organized July 17 - Freeborn County Commissioners agree to support SOH efforts July 18 - Albert Lea School Board passes resolution stating that full-service hospital “crucial” to community; Freeborn County Commissioners meet with Mayo officials July 19 - Convention and Visitors Bureau agree to support SOH efforts July 23 - SOH members to contact political officials and staff booths at Wind Down Wednesday and Freeborn County Fair July 30 - Ongoing: T-shirts, hats, signs, bumper-stickers for purchase, along with 15,000 brochures available for distribution; contacts solicited with outlying communities; searching for prior paperwork to establish legal history between Mayo and Albert Lea (Mayo paid $0.00 to obtain hospital); contact initiated with MN State Attorney General’s office in conjunction with City Administrator Chad Adams and County Attorney David Walker July 31 - U.S. Congressman Tim Walz visits Albert Lea and follows-up meeting by sending letter to Mayo asking that community concerns be addressed Aug 5 - Winnebago and Worth, IA, communities express concerns re: Mayo’s proposed changes in Albert Lea medical care Aug 6 - Continued contact with other Minnesota and Iowa small towns; SOH to participate in Emmons Borderfest, Wells Kernel Days, and Steele County Fair; three SOH billboards being planned Aug 10 - Rally held at Mayo in Rochester to lift up SOH concerns, attending by approximately 150 Aug 13 - National news reports of SOH appears in New Orleans and on both coasts Aug 14 - Local and state representatives meet with Mayo requesting pause in transition Aug 16 - Dr. Annie Sadosty, Mayo rep, meets with Alden citizens to discuss future of clinic there Aug 21 - City and County officials meet with State Attorney General in Albert Lea to discuss concerns Aug 22 - SOH co-leaders and John Morrison meeting with Attorney General in St. Paul to discuss concerns; Minneapolis Star Tribune prints editorial questioning Mayo’s activities in Albert Lea Aug 27 - 185 on SOH email list; 4354 friends on SOH Facebook page Aug 30 - Mayo meets with residents of Kiester, MN, and Lake Mills, IA, to discuss community concerns regarding health care Aug 31 - MN Lt. Gov. Tina Smith visits Albert Lea to discuss concerns, asks Mayo to pause transition Sept 8 - Albert Lea Tribune reports that Dr. Matthew Kumar has filed three complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and one complaint with the Department of Justice against Mayo Sept 10 - Ongoing reports of small hospitals succeeding financially; search underway for Forensic Accountant to assess feasibility of local sustainable hospital Sept 18 - Mayo announces it will close its LeRoy, MN, clinic on Sept. 28 Sept 26 - Albert Lea city officials discuss options for care with other clinics and hospitals Sept 28 - SOH explores consortium with other communities Sept 29 - Billboard on I-35 near Clarks Grove exit: “The Mayo Way Doesn’t Work for Rural Health Care; Save our Hospital in Albert Lea.” Sept 30 - Rally in Albert Lea’s Central Park with guest speakers State Representative Paul Thissen and Fairmont city councilman Tom Hawkins. Glen Parsons and Roger Truax portray the Mayo brothers, and ice cream truck sells ice cream treats. Rally culminates in march around the hospital. At least 300 in attendance. Oct 1 - Approximately 120 people participate in candlelight march to hospital to mark the closing of the ICU Oct 3 - SOH, Albert Lea City Council, and Freeborn County Commissioners each allocate $25,000 to pay Quorum Health Resources to produce a pro forma, which will assess feasibility for a successful local hospital Oct 4 - Beginning of weekly SOH turnouts in New Denmark Park on Wednesdays at 5 pm. Oct 11 - Mayo conducts a phone survey which includes questions about how favorable we feel toward SOH, and if we think SOH is a grassroots movement or started by outside organizers. Oct 13 - Rep. Tim Walz announces facilitated dialogue between Mayo and the city of Albert Lea. Honorable David Minge will facilitate. Dates to be announced. Oct 14 - Steering Committee long-term strategy session, 9 am to 2 pm. Oct 17 - About 2 dozen SOH members attend the DFL gubernatorial forum on health care in Rochester. Oct 21 - Former Albert Lea Medical Center CEO Dr. Harmon pens guest column in Albert Lea Tribune, in which he denounces Mayo’s plan to close most inpatient services as a “betrayal.” Oct 22 - Treasurer announces contributions to SOH have surpassed $100,000. Oct 23 - Nearly 40 SOH members attend the Republican gubernatorial forum on health care in Rochester. Oct 24 - Brad Arends, SOH co-chair, has meeting with Federal Trade Commission in Washington. Oct 25 - First facilitated dialogue between Mayo, City of Albert Lea, and Freeborn County.
Stories From Community Members
Kathy Paul
Former Naeve Hospital Board Member
Cobb Knutson
Retired Minnesota State Trooper
It seems that almost every issue of the Albert Lea Tribune these days has a Letter to the Editor or an article about Mayo Health Care’s destructive actions involving the Albert Lea Hospital. When Mayo first announced the plan to eviscerate the Albert Lea facility, I was shocked and horrified. As a member of the Naeve Hospital Board of Directors at the time we affiliated with Mayo, and as a member of the negotiating team, I had heard the glowing promises made by the Mayo representatives regarding the future services to be provided to our area as a result of our joining with Mayo. As I listened to the positive commitments that Mayo was making, it appeared that the future of our health care services would be enhanced by affiliating with the nationally recognized Mayo name. As an institution that kept up to date on the latest medical and business practices, Mayo was expanding its market - Florida and Arizona sites were some that I recall being discussed as possibilities. So, the question arose, what will the next steps in Mayo’s long-range plan include? We were assured that services available in Albert Lea at that time would be maintained and that there would be expansion of others. Now, we are told that we will no longer have necessary basic services in our hospital which serves the surrounding area as well as Albert Lea - no intensive care, no inpatient surgery, no maternity ward. These decisions were made without the input of our local people apparently. Mayo states, “The community-based providers (such as the hospital in Albert Lea), paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest quality health care close to home.” One might ask, “Close to whose home?” Recently, Mayo Clinic Health System sent a letter to people explaining its perspective of the situation with the Albert Lea Mayo Clinic Health System facility. They sent it to an individual who had passed away two years ago. Perhaps in their effort to “ensure its long-term viability and success,” to quote the letter, the decision makers at Mayo might want to update their records. And, their mailing list is not the only thing that Mayo Clinic Health System does not have right. Moving the vital services to Austin is a severe blow to the community of Albert Lea in ways that cannot be repaired. I am still shocked and horrified. My name is Bob (Cobb) Knutson. I live in Albert Lea, was born and raised here. Graduated from high school here. Went into the military for four years, one year in southeast Asia. Came back, got into law enforcement. Spent 31 years--four years in the police department Albert Lea, 27 years with the state patrol. I’ve seen a lot of things, a lot of accidents, a lot of horrific things; you people couldn’t even understand. It was always good for us. We’d go to accident scenes. We got the people before the ambulances got them. Before they went to Mayo. We were glad to see the ambulances come and glad to see them go with the people. We always were confident that when they got up here (Albert Lea’s hospital), they had the people in the emergency room. They knew how to take care of them. If they needed life or death surgery, they would go upstairs. If they didn’t, they’d transfer them or tried to take care of them. A lot of times the weather was bad and we had the highways closed, but people are still out there. A lot of kids get born during bad weather. Many times I’d stop somebody, 100-110mph at night and turn on them, and they wouldn’t stop. Then after a mile or two, they’d turn their four-ways on. The car would stop. They would come back to my car. “My wife is in the car and she’s gonna have a baby. We live twelve miles into Iowa and her water broke.” We were trained in childbirth. Several times the head was crowning. We’d call in. I worked out of Fairmont nine years. I know all about the Fairmont hospital. I worked out of Mankato, same thing. When you have a baby with the head crowning and it’s about twelve below zero, you are glad that emergency room is there. And when you get in there, it is fine. And you’ve heard, well they’ve got the new building there (in Albert Lea). They are going to put all these ambulances in it, and they are going to run them to Rochester. Well, there are a lot of days out there that the roads are closed. We’re out there getting people out of the ditches and everything. The ambulances aren’t going to make it to Austin. They aren’t going to make it to Rochester. If the weather is bad, the helicopters don’t land. They don’t come in. Period. So, it’s up to the people at Naeve (the Albert Lea hospital). You better hope there is somebody upstairs that’s got that surgical unit, that knows what they’re doing and that has an intensive care unit there with doctors and nurses that know what they are doing. We have that now. We were always thankful, we were always grateful that those people were there. But down the line, I haven’t heard anyone bring this up…People are going to DIE. You don’t want to think about it. You are going to get some mother from Scarville, Iowa coming up. She’s going to get here. Nine out of ten births are normal, but you get one that is breech, or she tears and starts bleeding. She’s not going to make it to Austin. She’s not going to make the helicopter. You better have somebody upstairs that knows what they are doing. So, you guys here (city council) and along with the county commissioners, you are representing everyone, not only in Albert Lea--18,000, you got 50-55,000 people, all these little towns, northern Iowa, and I have seen them come up from everywhere. They are the ones that depend on people like you, to make the decisions…so make them right when you make them, because people are going to die. Transcript of retired Minnesota State Trooper Robert “Cobb” Knutson’s speech from the August 14, 2017 Albert Lea city council meeting
Stories From Community Members
Jill Morstad
Former Mayo Clinic Health Systems ICU Nurse
Jill Morstad has loved being a nurse in the ICU (Special Care Unit) in Albert Lea for nearly 40 years. Jill chose to earn national certification as a Critical Care Nurse just over 20 years ago and has maintained that certification. October 1st was a sad day for her and many of her co-workers as that was the day the ICU closed--the leadership of Mayo had decided the ICU services provided in Albert Lea would be shuttered and moved to Austin. This left the staff concerned for patients they had previously cared for in their unit, and also left many with uncertainties about their own jobs. The announcement of that move came in June without warning, without discussion, and without input from the staff, the same staff that had just received an Excellence Award for Patient Satisfaction from Mayo. Mayo leadership has often gone on record stating, “The staff of the Albert Lea hospital and care they provide is second to none.” The Mayo website for http://albertleaaustinfacts.mayoclinic.org includes this statement, which makes the closing of this department very hard to understand. Morstad said, “There was never a chance to discuss this action. We were just supposed to accept that our jobs, caring for patients needing our services in this community and the satisfaction we felt in doing so was being snatched away. Questions raised regarding the decision resulted in few answers.” Jill stated that she tried raising questions with Dr. Noseworthy (Mayo CEO) and in return received only a form-letter response from Annie Sadosty (Vice President of Mayo Clinic Health System Southeast Minnesota Region). That letter states, “We are committed to working with the community to ensure that Albert Lea will continue to have a vibrant medical center staffed by the highest quality health care professionals.” Morstad continued, “It seemed we were just supposed to accept that this decision had been made by someone who knew what was best! The unit we knew with its up-to-date equipment providing high-quality care by an excellent staff for nearly 42 years in this building was being eliminated. As coworkers, we had worked as a team through many tough challenges, so this cut very deeply!” Resistance to this decision has been ongoing through a grassroots group called “Save Our Hospital,” which holds weekly Sunday night meetings at the American Legion building in Albert Lea. This is where Jill shared her strong feelings of loss and resentment toward Mayo leadership. She shared that she received her degree from Rochester Community College, including clinical experience at St Mary’s, Methodist, and Olmsted Community Hospitals, and had wanted to remain in Rochester, but for a variety of reasons settled in Albert Lea with her husband and started her career as an RN in this community. She was employed by Naeve Hospital, which eventually became Albert Lea Medical Center and then Mayo Clinic Health System. She voiced concerns that piece by piece Albert Lea and surrounding communities are now losing services. Jill was part of an original unit council that had been initiated several years ago and met frequently to allow staff to be involved with decisions and concerns about their unit so they could be part of the solution. Jill served on the unit council for 5 years and felt it was a very productive group. She now questions whether this resource was utilized at all throughout any of this recent Mayo decision. Jill stated there is a universal process in healthcare. She described this process, stating that “Anytime we do a procedure, we take a pause or a ‘time out’ prior to the procedure to make sure that the right patient receives the right procedure. This is done to prevent an undesirable outcome. If any member of the team (first and foremost the patient) doesn’t agree, we do not proceed.” Jill stated that she messaged Dr. Noseworthy with many concerns and in that message she requested that Mayo itself take a “time out,” a pause, and listen to the other members of the team. However this was not to be. The decision to close Albert Lea’s ICU was a top-down decision, not a team decision, and it affects many lives in the hospital, the community, and the surrounding area. Mayo continues to try to reassure the community that only 5% of hospital services will be lost to the Albert Lea area with their relocation to Austin. Morstad doesn’t agree those numbers are reassuring. “The ICU (Special Care Unit), all medical or surgical patients needing hospitalization, and all Labor and Delivery and newborn care will be eliminated from Albert Lea under Mayo’s plan. Five percent or not, those are real people with real concerns and that number is multiplied every day. It angers me that Mayo is presenting those numbers to make it look like it is OK. It’s not! It is not insignificant!” The staff from the Special Care Unit has been scattered. Some have left, others have moved to other positions. Jill has decided on “retirement” but states she wasn’t ready for it. She says, “I had an opportunity to make a difference right here in Albert Lea. I loved caring for this community, for friends, neighbors, and coworkers whenever they needed my help. We worked as a team with providers and many other departments, and we were challenged and we were rewarded. The various needs of this community continue!” Mayo has lost the trust and respect of many in the community. The extremely poor communication by Mayo has been a huge cause of this lack of trust. The Save Our Hospital group, the City Council, the County Commissioners, the Attorney General, State Representatives Tim Walz, Dan Sparks, Peggy Bennett and others have been trying to understand Mayo’s decision. Elimination of services by Mayo has occurred in other communities such as Fairmont, Lake City, Wells, Leroy and others. Stripping local rural towns of quality health services does nothing to improve the care patients deserve. As Jill Morstad said, “You want to do what is best for your patients. I don’t feel this change is best for our patients.”
Stories From Community Members
Marlene Behle
Retired Albert Lea Tribune Reporter
My name is Marlene Behle, I am an 86 –year-old widow. This is my story of frustration, anger, and fear. It was December of 2016; it was a very nice day, and I was having lunch at SEMCAC. Chicken Chow Mein was on the menu that day and I was happy because that is one of my favorite dishes. While I was eating and talking (I really like to talk) a noodle got stuck in my throat. I quietly left my seat and went to the office. I was coughing quite hard, and the staff became alarmed and called an ambulance. The ambulance was there in minutes, but before it arrived, the noodle came loose. The ambulance crew asked me if I wanted to go to the Emergency Room. I thought for a second and decided perhaps I should be checked out by a doctor. The ambulance took me to the Emergency Room in Albert Lea. When we arrived, the ER staff informed the ambulance crew that there were no beds available. I did not think that was a problem as I just wanted to talk to the ER doctor. I was given a hospital gown, instructed to put it on and wait for the doctor. No doctor appeared. When I asked, I was informed that I was being transferred to Austin. I tried to explain that I did not need a hospital room- just doctor to make sure I did not have a problem. Instead of talking to a doctor or a nurse, I was hustled, with my gown all aflutter, back into the ambulance, protesting all the way. As we neared Austin, I was informed that there was again a change of plans. There were no beds available in the Austin, either. I lay there and thought, how is this possible - two hospitals and no beds? The ambulance crew reversed directions and headed to Owatonna. I was beginning to get mad and very frustrated. No one was listening to me! I just wanted to talk to a doctor. My requests were being ignored. Anyone who knows me understands that I am hard to ignore. On the ride to Owatonna, I overheard the crew discussing the fact that there would likely be no beds available in Owatonna for at least six hours. I asked to be taken back to Albert Lea. But again, no one was listening or talking to me. I was beginning to feel very frustrated, lonely and becoming a bit scared. Just as we arrived at the Owatonna hospital, I was informed that they would have a bed available very shortly. I was quickly met by a very nice doctor and nurse. This was the first doctor or nurse to talk to me. I asked them to look at my throat, check my blood pressure and, unless something was wrong, let the ambulance take me back to Albert Lea. As I suspected, I was OK. Finally, I thought “now I can go home�. When I suggested this, I was informed that the ambulance could not take me back to Albert Lea and that I would be held overnight for observation and released first thing in the morning. I gave up fighting, it was just too hard. In the morning, I was informed that I could only be released to a family member. While my nephew had stopped to see me, I was informed it had to be a direct family member. My nephew located my son who lives in Kearney, Nebraska, who had over a six hour drive to get to Owatonna, just to sign my release and take me home. It was late afternoon before my son arrived and well after dark before I was home, safe in my apartment. All I needed was for a doctor at the ER in Albert Lea to take a quick look at my throat to reassure me. Instead all my requests were ignored and I was treated like a hysterical old lady. The most frustrating and scary part of the experience was not being able to check myself out. I was humiliated that my son had to drive all that distance just to get me released. Getting old is tough, Mayo is making things much harder. The question that keeps coming up in my mind is how much did this unnecessary trip cost. This was the scariest day of my life.
Stories From Community Members
Nancy Jones
Local Resident and Mother
During the past summer, the Tom and Nancy Jones family interfaced with the medical care offered at Mayo Health Systems in Albert Lea. This was at a time when the plans for the changes in the hospital services had been announced but had not yet been initiated. Nancy’s mother-in-law, Beverly Jones, entered the hospital very early on a Monday morning. Her condition led to surgery later that evening. After a number of days, she was transferred to Thorne Crest Senior Living Community where she was to rehabilitate and gain strength. However, because she was not responding as expected to her rehabilitation program and began experiencing fluid retention, Beverly was re-admitted to the hospital. It was learned that she had suffered a heart attack sometime after her surgery. After another hospital stay, Beverly returned to Thorne Crest where she, unfortunately, passed away on August 18. It is because of this very recent and very emotional experience that Nancy wanted to share her concerns with the proposed changes to the in-patient services at our local hospital. While the Jones family was very pleased with the care given, one of the concerns she had was that during the time of hospitalization, her mother-in-law saw three different hospitalists. Each time they would enter the room, they would seek information from family members on her mother-in-laws medications, trying to get up-to-date. Nancy reported that one of the first doctors to see her mother-in-law suggested to the family that her mother-in-law might be experiencing some dementia. There had never been any history of this concern, and following that visit, there was never a concern about this mentioned by anyone else. The process of getting to know the patient is made difficult under the Mayo system where patients have different hospitalists overseeing the care of the patient at the hospital and the regular primary physician is not a part of one’s care team. Because of her experience this summer, Nancy is very concerned for the citizens of Albert Lea and the area if Mayo moves forward with its plans. Nancy and Tom have a young family, with children who are active and involved. Having a full-service hospital here allowed Nancy to be able to make meals for the family, keep the laundry and the housework under control while still being able to visit her motherin-law two to three times a day. It also made it possible for Beverly’s 89-year-old husband to make numerous visits to see her each day. When there were scheduled meetings with the doctor, Nancy’s husband could work until 5 minutes before the meeting, go to the hospital and be back at work in a short period of time. Things would have been very different had they been forced to go to Austin each time they visited. Another concern that was raised is the fact that Albert Lea has a “mature” and aging population. There are many seniors who no longer drive at night. This will significantly impact many people’s ability to visit loved ones. In addition, being further away will mean added expense in travel costs. It will also very likely result in increased food costs as more meals away from home may result. For many on fixed incomes, these are additional hardships that are added on top of the higher insurance rates that people are already paying. Nancy talked about the concern that Mayo has raised repeatedly: that recruitment and retention is a problem in rural health care. She cited her own experience in the educational field. “I have worked under different superintendents as a teacher, and who is leading you and how they treat you makes a difference on whether your staff stays stable or not”. She shared that in 2009, she experienced a significant medical event. Of the four doctors who cared for her during that time, none are still practicing in Albert Lea due to retirement or leaving Albert Lea. She suggested that the Mayo Health System may need to look more closely at its system – are there things that they could do differently that would allow them to keep more doctors? The hospitalization of a loved one is a very emotional event, both for the patient and for the family members. As Nancy has so generously shared, it was wonderful that her family was able to be close to their loved one during this difficult time. This is what she wants for the citizens of Albert Lea and the area. There continues to be a need for a full service hospital in Albert Lea, MN.
Stories From Community Members
Aruna & Nathan Jones Expectant Parents
Anticipating the birth of child is such an exciting feeling for parents. It is a time of wonder – what will it be like moving from “just us” to the new reality of “three.” Aruna and Nathan Jones are in that very special, exciting time of life. They are expecting a child around January 26, 2018. The joy in their eyes when they talked about the birth of their little one was obvious. They have been seeing one of the doctors on staff here in Albert Lea. As they talked about the upcoming birth event, they raised some concerns. Aruna’s pregnancy has been labeled “high risk” since the beginning. She is happy with her services here, but both she and Nathan are concerned that the Albert Lea hospital site no longer has an ICU as part of its services. January weather is unpredictable. What happens if there is need for a transfer to an ICU and there are blizzard conditions outside? Aruna and Nathan live in Hartland. Their drive to Albert Lea would be about 14 miles. A trip to Austin would be 32 miles. They are concerned that, because they may have to rely on family members for transportation, the distance becomes a bigger burden. Nathan is a member of the National Guard and knows that he will have some scheduled time away in January. He is not happy that others may have to drive further in the event that he is not available. Another concern of his comes from his experience as a medic in the National Guard. He knows that there are medical risks. He has been in situations when, after a certain amount of time “something goes terribly wrong.” Having services close to home is critical in those situations. The birth of a baby is something to be shared. Nathan said that he is anticipating spending as much time with his wife and new baby as possible after the birth. The additional miles to and from each visit, should they end up having to go to Austin, is something that he says could be avoided if ICU services were still available in Albert Lea. He pointed out that visiting in Austin would be an additional travel burden on their parents, also. Bringing a child into a family is a beautiful and exciting event. Being able to experience this close to home with family and friends is what every community wants for its citizens. There continues to be a need for a full service, acute care hospital in Albert Lea, MN.
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