Though Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith (Democratic-Farmer-Laborer) called on the Mayo Clinic to "take a pause" on consolidation plans for its Albert Lea hospital, Mayo has stood its ground and plans to go ahead as planned, according to the Post-Bulletin.
Mayo announced this June that it will move inpatient, ICU and maternity services from its Albert Lea campus to Austin, and will transition behavioral healthcare from Austin to Albert Lea. The move almost immediately sparked outrage from Albert Lea residents.
Ms. Smith's comments are just one example of a mounting chorus of public dissent against Mayo's planned move, with Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL), state Sen. Tim Walz, DFL-Austin, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn., and multiple local politicians calling for Mayo to rethink its proposed consolidation. Nevertheless, Mayo said it will still move ahead with the plan.
"To ensure the highest quality healthcare, we are moving forward with the optimization plans," said Ginger Plumbo, a spokeswoman for Mayo. "We will continue engaging with the community as we move through subsequent phases of the plan."
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