By January 2018, Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic will overhaul its governance model for facilities across southeast Minnesota in a move designed to align the health system's governance structure with its integrated operating structure. However, information on the changes has not yet been widely communicated, causing friction at some community hospitals, according to the Post-Bulletin.
The new governance model would revolve around the creation of an "integrated regional board working in concert with local community boards" in the Minnesota cities of Rochester, Lake City, Cannon Falls, Red Wing, Owatonna, Faribault, Austin and Albert Lea, Mayo spokeswoman Asia Zmuda told the Post-Bulletin. It represents a significant change from Mayo Clinic's current governance model, in which each hospital's city runs its own board to discuss local issues.
"To support this integrated operating environment, we need a governance structure that can take a regional view of our services, our clinic and hospital capacity, and the present and future healthcare needs of our region's population," said Tom Witt, MD, CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing, Minn., according to the report. "This regional perspective, combined with the unique insights of local representatives, will help us to strengthen our healthcare services at each of our locations."
But not all affected communities know the plan yet, according to Mayo Clinic Vice President Bobbie Gostout, MD. In particular, the city council of Lake City has not been receptive to Mayo's planned overhaul.
"There is some concern this isn't what's best for Lake City," said city council member Russell Boe, according to the report. "I think there's conflicting best interest. In this case, what's best for Lake City isn't what's best for Mayo Clinic. I think it's sort of a logical conclusion, but Lake City has some protections now."