FAIRMONT – At Tuesday night’s Fairmont Community Hospital (FCH) Foundation annual meeting, the decision to expand the foundation’s focus to all non-profit healthcare organizations in the area was approved.

The foundation takes donations, which are used on healthcare projects to benefit the community. The annual meeting serves as a time for all of the donors to get together, review the previous year and discuss what the Foundation is doing moving forward.

From the foundation’s beginning in 1989 until now, they had only supported the Fairmont Community Hospital. That support transferred in 2001 when Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) took over. With recent changes, such as the closure of labor, delivery, and surgical services, FCH Foundation Board President Marilyn Forstrom said this discussion was necessary.

“We’ve lost several services at our hospital,” she said. “There’s not as much need there either anymore. The money does no good if it’s not helping anyone. We think we will serve the donors and the community better if we can include more providers.”

Board Member Ross Wohlhuter presented the proposed changes to those in attendance. In addition to labor, delivery and surgical, Wohlhuter said orthopedic, pediatrics and neurology were among the dozen services removed by MCHS in the last four to five years.

“Mayo seems to have a different interpretation of what we need for services and what the people in Fairmont and the surrounding area are expecting,” he said.

Wohlhuter said the changes would affect articles two and six. Article two changes the portion where it says the FCH Foundation is to give sole support to Mayo.

“The new article two states ‘To this end, the corporation shall operate to support the Fairmont Medical Center Mayo Health System, its affiliated organizations and other organizations promoting health in Fairmont, Minnesota,'” he said.

Examples of other organizations in Fairmont include United Hospital District (UHD), Cornerstone Clinic and Open Door Health Center. In particular circumstances, the foundation’s charitable support could go to organizations outside of Fairmont if they are seeking support for initiatives benefitting people in the Fairmont area.

Article six changes what happens to the money if Fairmont were to no longer have a hospital. Previously, the article stated the money would be given to MCHS. The updated version would leave it up to board discussion and board vote, subject to Attorney General approval.

The vote was undertaken by the foundation’s members. Everyone who has donated to the foundation is considered a member, and more than the 50 members necessary for a quorum made their voices heard via their voting ballots. After a short tabulation process, Forstrom said the changes were approved by a majority vote.