Mayo Clinic Closes 6 Rural Minnesota Clinics: Locations, Alternatives, and Patient Impact

The chill of December winds across rural Minnesota carried more than just frost this year. It carried the news of closure.

Mayo Clinic Health System, a beacon of medical care for generations, has shuttered six rural clinics in a single month, signaling a stark pivot in its long-standing commitment to these communities. Towns like St. Peter, Montgomery, Wells, Belle Plaine, Caledonia, and North Mankato are now grappling with a new medical reality.

For residents like Brian O’Brien, 72, and Sally Gaugert, 71, the closures are real disruptions to their lives and their health. Gaugert, now facing a longer drive to Mankato for care, notes this is the second time in two years her family has had to reroute their medical needs.

The “Why”: Staffing Shortages vs. Record Profits

Mayo Clinic, a titan in the medical world, reported a staggering $1.3 billion in operating profit last year on nearly $20 billion in revenue. Yet, the health system points to staffing shortages and mounting maintenance costs as the primary drivers behind these closures.

Dr. Karthik Ghosh, vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, stated in a September interview that several clinics were down to only one or two clinicians, leading to inconsistent hours. He also cited maintenance issues, such as a mold problem at the Wells facility, as unsustainable burdens. That context is expanded in a Star Tribune interview.

However, the narrative of unavoidable economic pressure warrants scrutiny. While staffing and infrastructure are valid concerns, internal financial audits likely highlighted these clinics as “underperforming” assets relative to the massive margins seen at Mayo’s Rochester and urban hubs.

The Data: Where Patients Go Now

The most pressing question for residents is: Where do I go for a doctor?

The following table breaks down the closures and the estimated impact on travel times for patients who wish to stay within the Mayo network, as well as local non-Mayo competitors.

A Strategic Shift or Rural Abandonment?

This wave of closures marks a dramatic departure from Mayo’s decades-long strategy of expansion into the Upper Midwest’s rural heartland. A deep dive into the data reveals a pattern: Mayo has closed 25 clinics in the past eight years, according to a Rochester Post Bulletin analysis. This December’s swift action is not an isolated incident but a calculated acceleration of a trend.

From a corporate perspective, the logic is undeniable. Consolidating resources into “Hub” centers (like Mankato and Albert Lea) improves efficiency. But the human cost of this efficiency is immense. When access is diminished, it impacts everything from chronic disease management to emergency response times.

As major health systems increasingly prioritize profitability, the safety nets for rural communities are eroding. For individuals like Sally Gaugert, the concern is immediate. “It’s just not right,” she stated. “We’ve always relied on Mayo. Now what?”

As more interviews and reports surface, the promise of healthcare close to home seems to be replaced by a financial calculus that prioritizes large-scale operations over localized accessibility.

Next Steps for Affected Patients

If you are a patient affected by these closures, you have options:

• Transferring Records: If you choose to switch to a local competitor (such as River’s Edge or Ridgeview), you must formally request a transfer of medical records via the Mayo Clinic Patient Portal or by calling Health Information Management.
• Transportation: Check with your insurance provider to see if they offer non-emergency medical transportation reimbursement for the increased travel distance to Mankato or Albert Lea.
• Prescriptions: Ensure your pharmacy has your new provider’s information immediately to avoid lapses in medication refills.