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Essentia Health-Fosston Public Hearing
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) held a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2024, on Essentia Health-Fosston’s closure of its labor and delivery services unit.
According to the submission filed by Essentia Health, labor and delivery services have been diverted to St. Mary’s Regional Health Center, an Essentia facility in Detroit Lakes. Essentia Health-Fosston will continue to provide prenatal and postpartum obstetrics services.
More information is available in the MDH news release: Public hearing set for January 30 on closure of Essentia Health-Fosston labor and delivery services.
- Hospital name: Essentia Health-Fosston
- Hospital owner: Essentia Health
- Hospital location: Fosston, Minnesota
- Proposed service change: Closure of Essentia Health-Fosston’s labor and delivery services unit.
- Public hearing date and time: Jan. 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. (via Teams)
The Minnesota Department of Health serves as a facilitator to ensure there is public discussion and engagement for any proposed closure, reduction of services or relocation of services for a hospital or hospital campus as outlined in Minnesota Statutes Section 144.555.
This statute gives MDH the authority to hold the meeting and to inform the public but not to change, delay or prevent the proposed changes, closures or relocations.