Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Public Hearing

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) held a public hearing on January 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. on Sanford Bemidji Medical Center’s planned closure of its inpatient rehabilitation unit.

According to the submission filed by Sanford Health, the inpatient rehabilitation unit beds will be transferred to other units within the medical center facility beginning on April 1. Patients requiring inpatient rehabilitation will be referred to swing-beds, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or other facilities outside of the area.

More information is available in the MDH news release: Public hearing set for January 17 on closure of Sanford Bemidji inpatient rehabilitation unit.

• Hospital Name: Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
• Hospital Owner: Sanford Health
• Hospital Location: Bemidji, Minnesota (Beltrami County)
• Proposed Service Change: Closure of inpatient rehabilitation unit.
• Public Hearing Date and Time: Jan. 17, 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.

Call Documents

Presentation slides will be posted prior to the call. A transcript of the hearing will be posted on this page 7-10 business days after the call.

• Presentation Slides: 2024-01-17 Bemidji Medical Center Closure of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services Presentation (PDF)
• Transcript: 2024-01-17 Bemidji Medical Center Closure of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services Public Hearing Transcript (PDF)