During a facilitated discussion between Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System and officials from Freeborn County, Minn., and Albert Lea, Minn., all parties agreed Mayo's transition of services from the Albert Lea campus to nearby Austin was not in violation of a previous agreement, according to the Albert Lea Tribune.
Retired Minnesota appellate judge David Minge mediated the conversation, and lawyers from all sides reviewed a 1995 agreement between Mayo and Naeve Health Care Association to see if Mayo's transition of ICU, inpatient and maternity services violated the agreement.
"All agreed that although the agreement provided that Mayo would provide health care services to the community, there was no limit on Mayo's flexibility in delivery of those services and that there was no requirement to provide specific services or at a specific location," according to a press release from the city of Albert Lea.
The parties did not find any guarantees in the agreement regarding what services the Albert Lea campus would offer. Albert Lea officials are set to meet with providers who could possibly replace Mayo in Albert Lea, though they acknowledged such a move would be difficult with Mayo maintaining a presence in the town.
Mr. Minge said he hopes the dialogue between Mayo, Albert Lea and Freeborn County can continue to be productive.
"Tough questions are being asked, forthright answers are being provided, and all hope that the mutual trust that is developing will result in continued progress of the facilitated dialogue undertaking," Mr. Minge said.