Fairview Red Wing could join Mayo

Fairview Red Wing Health Services could become part of Mayo Clinic Health System if talks progress, authorities acknowledged today. A decision could come in 2012.

The local board of directors, Mayo Clinic Health System and Fairview Health Services officials said they are engaged in discussions about how best to provide for the region’s future health care needs.

“As part of this strategic planning process, the three organizations have agreed to begin a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether a more formal relationship between Mayo Clinic Health System and Red Wing is feasible. This could potentially end Red Wing’s current affiliation with Fairview Health Services,” they said in a prepared statement.

Fairview Red Wing held meetings with doctors, then supervisors and staff early this morning to tell them about the announcement.

“Given the rapid pace of change in health care delivery, the three parties are working diligently to ensure residents continue to have access to high quality, sustainable health care,” the statement also said. “During this evaluation, there will be no immediate changes at Fairview Red Wing. Final decisions won’t be made until later next year.”

The local health system has long had connections with both the Fairview and Mayo systems.

Fairview Health System, University of Minnesota Physicians and Fairview Red Wing have had a close partnership since the 1990s. University of Minnesota Hospital acquired the former Interstate Medical Center in 1992. Merger talks soon began between Interstate Medical Center and River Region Health Services, which owned the former St. John’s Hospital, Seminary Home and Seminary Plaza.

In 1997, the Red Wing entities finally merged and became a formal affiliate of Fairview Health Services.

Since then Fairview Red Wing has grown into a regional health care system. The 50-bed medical center opened in 2001, combining the hospital and main clinic into one building. There are additional primary care clinics in Zumbrota and Ellsworth; housing, long-term and transitional care for seniors; as well as home care services that include hospice.

Red Wing also has worked closely with Mayo Clinic Health System over the years, given their geographic proximity and common patient populations. Mayo ambulance helicopters began transporting patients from Red Wing in 1990, for example.

Mayo Clinic sees many Fairview Red Wing patients in Rochester and Red Wing provides physician outreach services to existing Mayo Clinic Health System facilities in Cannon Falls and Lake City.

For more information, see Saturday’s print edition of the Republican Eagle.

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