Mayo Clinic to Close Six Minnesota Clinics, Scale Back Albert Lea Services

The nonprofit health system said the affected clinics include Belle Plaine, Caledonia, Montgomery, North Mankato, St. Peter, and Wells.

Mayo Clinic announced plans to close six of its clinics in Minnesota by December 10 and scale back services at its Albert Lea hospital, citing low patient volumes and persistent staffing shortages.

The nonprofit health system said the affected clinics include Belle Plaine, Caledonia, Montgomery, North Mankato, St. Peter, and Wells.

At the Albert Lea hospital and clinic, elective surgeries and procedures in ophthalmology, gynecology, endoscopy, orthopedics, and podiatry will be discontinued.

Mayo stated the changes are part of a consolidation effort aimed at maintaining sustainable and safe care. Consolidating services will help the system “strengthen rural health care delivery and ensure safe, high-quality and sustainable care for generations to come,” according to the provider.

A spokesperson said the restructuring will allow Mayo to focus resources where it has the staff and infrastructure to best serve patients.

“These decisions reflect the realities of delivering high-quality care in smaller communities today,” said Dr. Karthik Ghosh, vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System Minnesota.

The health system has launched a dedicated webpage with frequently asked questions for affected patients. Staff will also receive guidance and support on transition plans and information about their “options.” It remains unclear whether the closures will result in layoffs.

The decision underscores wider challenges facing rural healthcare providers. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has reported that while about 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, only 9% of physicians practice there. Recruiting and retaining staff is often difficult, as compensation is less competitive and opportunities for advanced training are limited.

Staff shortages have led many rural hospitals to cut services in recent years, with maternity care often being the first to go. A 2023 report from the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform found that more than 200 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies over the past decade, with half of those closures occurring since 2020.

Analysts warn that rural hospital cuts could continue despite recent federal funding commitments. Public health experts note that while $50 billion was allocated under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to support rural health, the amount falls short of offsetting Medicaid reductions included in the legislation.

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