Fairview has announced that it will be closing multiple clinic locations in East Central Minn. later this year in an attempt to address the health care providers' financial instability.
According to Fairview, the healthcare system has lost $163 million in the first six months of 2020. They will be reducing 900 positions and consolidating over 16 clinics and six pharmacy locations by December 4, 2020.
The cuts will include the Pine City and Milaca clinics and the Rush City and Milaca pharmacies.
Fairview CEO and President James Hereford said that the healthcare system will be focusing on creating "healthcare hubs."
"We will deploy a new ambulatory care model focused on health ‘hubs,’ expanding services across more than 40 clinics and primary care locations, repositioning specialty care through comprehensive ambulatory centers and fully leveraging new consumer demand for virtual care," said Hereford in a message on the Fairview website.
Also affected is Bethesda Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. Fairview announced that they are working with Ramsey County to turn Bethesda Hospital into a homeless shelter; St. Joseph's will be "reimagined as a community hub for health and wellness."
Fairview says it will work with patients whose clinic is closing to transfer them for continued care. Anyone with questions is asked to call 1-855-324-7843.
