By Rich Larson, KYMN News
Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina issued a joint release today, announcing major changes in healthcare for many residents of the Greater Northfield area. The two clinics have announced that both parties have signed a letter of intent to bring the Northfield Allina Clinic under the ownership of NH+C.
In the statement the President and CEO of Northfield Hospital + Clinics, Zander Abbott, said the decision was made to bring the two clinics together in order to make healthcare more accessible in the area.
“This is an innovative way to expand on neighbors caring for neighbors while assuring hometown primary care stays in the hometowns we serve,” he said. “Patients will have access to expanded exceptional primary care through Northfield Hospital + Clinics and continue to receive specialty care in a seamless manner from our colleagues at Allina Health.”
Abbott pointed out that each clinic has strengths, where the other might not be as efficient. He pointed to the Allina cardiology department and partnership with Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. That program will transfer in the agreement, bringing more robust cardiology care to NH+C patients. Conversely, NH+C has the kind of MRI equipment that Allina has to bring in on a trailer for a certain amount of time. The merging of the two clinics, Allina Chief Medical Group Operations Officer Bill Evans said in the statement, “leverages the strengths of both systems by combining Allina Health’s regional expertise with Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ local presence.”
Abbott said employees of the Allina Clinic will be offered their same jobs with NH+C, and that Allina patients should not see much immediate change. Both clinics accept the same insurance, and they should be able to continue seeing their chosen physician. He also stressed that NH+C will remain an independent health system, and will not come under the Allina umbrella.
With the letter of intent signed, the next step is to finalize a binding agreement followed by moving through the various regulatory and approval processes. The plan is to have the transition fully complete by the end of summer, 2026.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Reach him at rich@kymnradio.net
