Clinic closing: Concerns grow with rumors
Sarah Day — Staff WriterBLUE EARTH - An announcement by Mankato Clinic that it will close its facility in Blue Earth - thus moving Dr. Kirk Odden to its Lake Crystal office - sparked a firestorm of rumors among the district's residents.
United Hospital District held its regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday night, and met concerns of the community.
Mankato Clinic came to Blue Earth in 1994. It has had a continuous lease with UHD for building space.
For the past several years, the clinic has not been able to recruit more primary care physicians, meaning Odden is the only one.
Jeff Lang, UHD administrator, said he called Carol Tilney - the clinic's director of clinical operations - in March to talk about space issues. Lang met with the clinic to discuss options for new clinic offerings, as well as what UHD could offer them with the building - such as better handicapped accessibility.
On June 5, the Mankato Clinic asked Lang to meet with them right away. They announced that day that the clinic in Blue Earth would close, citing financial viability and ability to recruit physicians as reasons.
Lang asked if the hospital could lease Odden for an extended period of time. He also asked if the clinic would release Odden from his non-compete contract to practice in the Blue Earth area.
A definitive answer on either question has not been provided.
Lang noted concern with a misconception in the community about the role UHD played in Mankato Clinic's decision. He said the timing of the announcement, the closing date of Odden's practice, and community involvement contributed to that misconception.
The lease was not the reason the clinic pulled out, he said.
"I've informed the Mankato Clinic of the questions and the concerns of the community on several different occasions and requested their assistance in addressing them through public forums, press releases or other methods," Lang said. "I did that on four separate occasions. I've been trying to get the Mankato Clinic to address some of these issues."
So far, Mankato Clinic has not publicly addressed the issues.
Lang and Dr. Terry Cahill met Tuesday with Odden and Dr. Mark Matthias, chief medical officer of Mankato Clinic. It was the first time UHD had a chance to talk with Odden about what he wants to do. Odden is choosing to continue with Mankato Clinic.
A letter to the board written by Odden and Matthias states many factors were involved in the decision to close the clinic. Those factors "make it impossible to continue to have a primary clinic in a small community with only two providers."
"The decisions were not forced on the Mankato Clinic by UHD and/or Dr. Cahill," the letter reads. "Much thought has been put into this and the decision to close the clinic will not be reversed. We wish the UHD clinic and hospital much success in their goal to recruit more qualified providers to serve the wonderful people of this area."
Another concern scattering strongly through the community is Odden's future presence at St. Luke's and Parker Oaks. Odden cares for at least 140 patients at St. Luke's, and he sees numerous patients at Parker Oaks, along with being the facility's medical director. Lang said Odden will continue those services, but will no longer work in the hospital. That means that any of his patients requiring emergency services will be taken to the hospital and cared for by Dr. Kevin Kimm - who started at UHD Tuesday - or Cahill.
Lang said Odden has to request his active staff privileged at the hospital be revoked, which is his intention. Odden will assume curtesy staff privileges, which would still allow him to have lab tests and X-rays done at the hospital.
When it came time for board members to ask questions, Douglas Johanson was one of the most vocal.
"I'm concerned," he said. "I think the board should meet with the Mankato Clinic. I want to hear it from their face. I think we need a choice."
Those assembled clapped in agreement.
