Fairview

By Deb Meyer, RN, MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner

On October 24, I was invited to join a round table with the United States Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter. As an MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner, this was an opportunity to continue in my leadership role and explain how corporatization affects Minnesota communities. It was an awesome experience!

Small business owners, farmers and a variety of other people told their stories. He really listened to everyone. My focus was on the Sanford/Fairview merger and how Worthington Regional Hospital changed after it was bought by Sanford. 
… Read more about: The corporatization of our communities: How nurses can speak out and make change  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lauren Nielsen
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Josh Keller
jkeller@seiumn.org

(Saint Paul) – July 27, 2023 – Today, M Health Fairview and South Dakota-based Sanford Health called off a merger that was announced late last year. Since the merger announcement, Minnesotans working and receiving care at the potentially impacted facilities raised concerns that the merger could increase costs and limit access to health services for patients, threaten jobs and working conditions for workers, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.

The following are statements from leaders of the Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Farmers Union and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa on the dissolution of the planned merger.
… Read more about: Statement on dissolution of planned merger between Sanford Health, M Health Fairview  »

This blog is an excerpt from a Letter to the Editor written by four MNA nurses and published in the Worthington Globe newspaper. MNA members across Minnesota are speaking out in opposition to the proposed Sanford/Fairview merger.

To the Editor:

The recent delay of the Sanford/Fairview merger and letter from Sanford Worthington CEO Jennifer Weg prompted us, a group of retired Sanford Worthington nurses, to write.  Some of us were at the Jan. 25 meeting held in Worthington, hosted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s office.

While we agree with the numerous Sanford Worthington managers and others who enthusiastically praised Sanford’s contribution to the community, we, as former employees, are perplexed by the lack of attention given to Sanford Worthington hospital itself.
… Read more about: Don’t overlook needs of Sanford Worthington Hospital  »

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – March 7, 2022 – At 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, healthcare workers, patients, and University of Minnesota medical students will hold a media availability to speak out against the proposed merger of M Health Fairview and Sanford Health. The media availability will take place ahead of a 6:00 p.m. Minnesota Senate hearing on the proposed merger.

Since the proposed merger was announced late last year, Minnesotans who work and receive care at potentially impacted facilities have raised concerns that this merger could increase costs and limit access to health services for patients, threaten jobs and working conditions for workers, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.
… Read more about: Workers, patients, students to hold media availability ahead of Senate hearing on proposed Sanford-Fairview merger  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

New study from MNA includes review of service closures by Sanford following past hospital takeovers  
(St. Paul) – February 21, 2023 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today released a new report
… Read more about: New report highlights dangerous consequences of corporate healthcare mergers, concerning record of Sanford and Fairview        » on the proposed merger of Sanford Health and M Health Fairview into a massive new healthcare chain. The 24-page report includes a review of scholarly studies on the effects of healthcare mergers on patients, workers and communities, as well as a review of the corporate policies pushed by hospital executives at Sanford and Fairview, including closures of facilities and units with their focus on the bottom line.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.orgLauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Proposed merger would put combined corporate health giant under command of Sanford, which recently paid a $49.5 million golden parachute to CEO who spread disinformation
Announcement follows another proposed corporate merger between Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System 

(St. Paul) – November 15, 2022 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today announced their opposition to the proposed merger of M Health Fairview and Sanford Health. The move would put control of the new healthcare conglomerate under the control of Sanford executive leadership in South Dakota, the health chain that recently paid out a $49.5 million golden parachute to their disgraced former CEO after he spread medical disinformation.
… Read more about: Threatened merger of Sanford, M Health Fairview would put corporate expansion ahead of patient care  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 12, 2022 – Today, the Minnesota Nurses Association responded to the announcement that the Minnesota Department of Health has found the proposed mental health facility to be operated by M Health Fairview and Acadia Healthcare to be in the public interest. MNA has raised concerns about the planned facility, citing recent hospital closures by M Health Fairview and the for-profit model of Acadia Healthcare which is out of step with Minnesotans’ and nurses’ values.
… Read more about: Statement from Minnesota Nurses Association on M Health Fairview and Acadia Mental Health Facility    »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

While nurses support more mental health beds, for-profit Acadia Healthcare has a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud

(St. Paul) – June 8, 2022 – This Thursday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m., M Health Fairview nurses, along with the Minnesota Nurses Association, will join other community members to testify to concerns with the proposed partnership between the Minnesota hospital system and Acadia Healthcare, a for-profit corporation with a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, and financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud.
… Read more about: M Health Fairview nurses, community members to testify to concerns with proposed Acadia Healthcare mental health hospital  »

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Patients Losing Nurse Staffing to Cuts

(St. Paul) – May 10, 2021 – Nurse members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed a formal notice of their intent to hold an Informational Picket outside M Health Fairview’s Southdale Hospital campus on Wednesday, May 12.

MNA nurses are opposing M Health’s plan to cut staffing for patients in vitally important care departments. While nurses have tried to engage in discussions with hospital management on solutions, Southdale staffing plans show managers intend to cut anyway, including reducing Medical/Surgical department staffing.
… Read more about: Nurses Will Picket M Health Southdale Hospital Over Staffing  »

By Tara Fugate

MNA Strategic Researcher

 

Something that still manages to shock a lot of people in the US is the growing number of similarities between nonprofits and for-profit hospitals. In 2013, 7 of the 10 most profitable hospitals in the country were classified as nonprofit. A 2013 study published in Health Affairs, examined factors contributing to hospital profitability. The study examined data from Medicare Cost Reports submitted by 2,993 acute care hospitals and produced a list of the top ten hospitals in the country with the highest profit from patient care (for fiscal year 2013).
… Read more about: Your Guide to the World of Nonprofit Finance-part 1  »