City of Springfield, Allina agree on health care partnership
By Brian Arola, Mankato Free Press
Allina Health will step in to provide health care at Springfield’s clinic once Mayo Clinic Health System vacates the site in March.
The city of Springfield and Allina unveiled the new partnership Thursday. Mayo Clinic Health System announced plans to close its Springfield hospital and clinic and Lamberton clinic last week.
The Mayo Clinic Health System hospital and clinic’s final day in Springfield will be March 1, 2020. Springfield City Manager Joe Stremcha said there will be a lapse between when Mayo closes and Allina’s clinic opens.
“The goal is to be done in three to four weeks, but the reality is it could take as long as two months,” he said.
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Allina, which operates the New Ulm Medical Center, will provide primary care, specialty care consultations, medical imaging and other services at the 625 N. Jackson Ave. clinic, according to a joint press release from the city and health system.
“As city leaders, it was our obligation to identify a long-term partner that we know will provide high-quality care for the people of Springfield well into the future, and we are pleased we didn’t need to look very far,” Stremcha said in a statement.
The agreement also means Allina Health will expand a partnership with St. John’s Lutheran Home to care for residents. New Ulm Medical Center President Toby Freier said in the release the health care organization is excited to join the Springfield community.
“Many Springfield residents have received care and service from New Ulm Medical Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute and Allina Health for years, so this opportunity is a comfortable fit for all of us,” he stated.
About 60 jobs were in jeopardy between Mayo’s Springfield and Lamberton facility closures. Stremcha said about 30 to 40 jobs could be retained for the Allina clinic, although the number may change as plans progress.
The city and Allina will also weigh how to maximize the Springfield medical facility’s space, as the hospital side of operations will still be closing.