Mayo Clinic Health System and local government entities have established working groups to discuss and provide more public information on issues identified by facilitated dialogue sessions.

The move could be seen as an attempt for officials and hospital leaders to work together as the hospital transitions most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin.

The three working groups — focused on health care and community relations, behavioral health and economic impact of the health care sector on local economy — were formed last week at a facilitated dialogue session of Albert Lea, Freeborn County and hospital system representatives to review the planned transition of most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin, according to a city press release following the event.

The session was one of several that have been led by retired Minnesota appellate Judge David Minge.

The release mentioned the hospital system’s status as the largest employer in Freeborn County.

“It is important that we foster a positive working relationship between Mayo and the community and ensure that Albert Lea area residents continue to have the very best health care at all times,” Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said in the release.

Mayo Clinic Health System Operations Manager Tricia Dahl and Ellen Kehr of the Blue Zones Project will lead the community relations group.

Freeborn County Public Health Director Sue Yost, Senior Resources Executive Director Jackie Hillman, 2nd Ward Albert Lea City Councilor Larry Baker, a member of a young family and a possible second Mayo employee will be part of the group.

Fountain Centers Director Tyler Oesterle and Freeborn County Administrator Tom Jensen will lead the behavioral health subgroup. Other members will include Freeborn County Department of Human Services Director Brian Buhlmann, Mark Kossman of Freeborn County Mental Health Center, United Way of Freeborn County Executive Director Ann Austin, Mark Frye, chairman of the Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and city representatives.

Adams is expected to lead the economic impact working group. Other members of the group will include an Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce representative, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency Executive Director Ryan Nolander and Mark Ciota, CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin.

Participants in the facilitated dialogue process will be ex-officio members of the working groups and are expected to report their work plans at the facilitated dialogue session the second week of March.

The group also discussed Mayo’s transition of services to Austin.

“Mayo said that there may be changes because of staffing and contracting impacts, but that the transition plan is moving ahead in all respects,” the release stated. “Mayo said that it attempts to keep its website summary of these changes up-to-date and that folks should check that site for current information.”

Mayo representatives reportedly said detailed plans for the intensive care unit expansion are complete and waiting state approval. Once that happens, work will begin on the expansion, which will result in 12 patient care rooms.

The city reportedly asked Mayo about its plans for real estate not used to provide health care resources, including a few parcels and houses west of the Albert Lea business district and a parcel in the Sunset Drive area.

“Mayo reported that some properties are used for staff housing while (others) have been identified for future use,” according to the release. “Mayo will review properties and discuss the subject further with community leaders.”

The flu epidemic has reportedly resulted in all of Mayo’s hospital beds in the region being filled, causing bottlenecks and rescheduling of routine and elective procedures as well as transfers to other facilities.

The meeting began with a brief discussion of the 1997 affiliation agreement between the Mayo Foundation and the then-independent Albert Lea Naeve Hospital, according to the release.

“The group appreciated Mayo’s willingness to provide them with an opportunity to read through the agreement as a qualified disclosure that respected Mayo’s policy of keeping business documents private,” according to the release. “The group thanks (Freeborn County Attorney David Walker) for his participation in the review process.”

Minge said “tough questions are being asked, forthright answers are being provided, and that all  hope that the mutual trust that is developing will result in continued progress of the facilitated dialogue undertaking.”