ACCESS TO LOCAL HEALTHCARE ranks high on my list of necessities. I expect it does for almost everyone, especially seniors like me.
I appreciate that I can go across town to see my family doctor, specialists and other medical professionals in our local clinics and hospital.
As someone who grew up in rural southwestern Minnesota with only a few doctors to serve the entire county decades ago, I deeply value living in a city with multiple clinics, a hospital, numerous therapists and more. I value local.
That all said, the future of healthcare in Faribault could change. Why do I say that? Because my healthcare provider, Allina Health, and California-based Sutter Health have signed a “definitive agreement” that would make Allina the Upper Midwest Division of Sutter Health.
The proposed acquisition will be the focus of a community forum from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, in Faribault, location to be determined. Allina Health has hospitals and clinics throughout Minnesota so this planned acquisition affects people across the state.
The Minnesota State Attorney General’s office is hosting the meeting to lay out details about the proposal and to get public input. It’s a process required by state law.
I care enough about local healthcare to attend. I need to learn more, to begin to understand what this could mean for me, my family and others in my community and area. Locally, Allina owns the hospital, a general clinic, specialty clinics and a sports rehab/therapy center. I’ve been a patient at these clinics, gone to therapy, used the emergency room and been hospitalized many times locally. Likewise family members have accessed Allina health services.
I don’t know much about the proposed acquisition, only that I grow concerned when ownership is assumed by an out-of-state nonprofit that is massive in size. My local hospital was once community-owned, until it became part of the Allina system in 2015.
Allina invested in the former District One Hospital with improvements to the emergency and surgical departments and more. But recently we lost our birthing center and hospital pediatric care. That’s a loss to parents and families who must now travel out of town to have their babies and get hospital care for their kids.
Talk of change always sparks questions. And it should. I encourage anyone who cares about the future of healthcare in Faribault to attend Wednesday’s public forum. This offers an opportunity to listen and to be heard.
However, there are some guidelines. To even attend, and that includes media, you must register in advance online. It’s not difficult to do. But requiring online registration could easily discourage people, especially those without computer access or skills, from attending. Then, the location of the hearing in Faribault will not be disclosed until 48 hours before the meeting.
If you wish to speak at the forum, you must also register in advance. That requirement seems more reasonable. Still, it’s another obstacle.
No matter, please, if you live in the Faribault area, make attending the community forum on the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health a priority on Wednesday evening. Come. Listen. Learn. Become informed. Be seen. And let your voice be heard if you choose to speak.
FYI: Click here to read the media release from the Minnesota state attorney general’s office on this community forum. The release includes links to register to attend and also a form to complete if you wish to speak.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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