CentraCare, Sauk Centre hospital and clinic take steps toward integration

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St. Michael’s Hospital in Sauk Centre will join CentraCare Health System July 1, 2012, under an affiliation agreement approved Wednesday by the Sauk Centre City Council.

During the coming year, the two organizations will work together on details of the integration. Del Christianson will continue as St. Michael’s administrator.

The city, which has owned the hospital since 1970, has taken this step to ensure the long-term viability of the community’s acute-care hospital, long-term care facility and independent living apartments for seniors. This action comes as health care reform presents financial and regulatory reforms that are particularly challenging for rural hospitals.

Meanwhile, Lakeview Clinic will join CentraCare on July 1 of this year. All Lakeview employees, including six physicians and two nurse practitioners, will become CentraCare employees. CentraCare Health System operates 13 clinics, three hospitals and four long-term care facilities across Central Minnesota.

When St. Michael’s Hospital officially joins CentraCare in 2012, the entire hospital/clinic/senior living campus will become known as CentraCare Health System – Sauk Centre.

“CentraCare Health System is committed to ensuring the availability of outstanding health care services to residents of Sauk Centre and the surrounding area,” said Terry Pladson, MD, CentraCare’s president/CEO. “We are proud of our success in partnering with rural communities, most notably Melrose and Long Prairie, to operate clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities. These partnerships ensure quality primary care services in rural communities as well as easy access to the specialty care that we provide through outreach and in St. Cloud.”

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