Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson wrote to Mayo Clinic CEO and President John Noseworthy, MD, asking the system to pause its consolidation plans in Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota. Noseworthy, however, said the group would go ahead with plans.

The letters, first reported by the Rochester Post-Bulletin, were due to local concerns over Mayo’s move to transfer all intensive care, maternity and inpatient services from Albert Lea to its Austin campus. Swanson had cleared any potential legal issues for the move, but asked Noseworthy to temporarily halt plans so a financial review of the Albert Lea hospital could be completed.

Noseworthy, however, ruled out a delay while acknowledging the consolidation is “unpopular” with “some residents.”

"With regard to a possible pause in the consolidation of services in Albert Lea and Austin, Mayo Clinic must respectfully decline your request," Noseworthy wrote. "The critical staffing shortage and related patient safety risk that drove our decision to consolidate have not changed. We have an obligation to move forward with consolidation plan to ensure that we can appropriately staff critical positions and continue to deliver safe, high-quality care.”

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