ALBERT LEA, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Health System will invest an approximate $15 million to enhance and modernize several departments in Albert Lea.

As a continuation of the renovation and redesign of patient care areas across Mayo Clinic Health System in Southeast Minnesota, the project will:

Outpatient Fountain Centers and Behavioral Health

• Relocate outpatient services to vacated space on the second floor of the hospital building.
• Provide opportunities for further expansion.

Ambulatory Surgery and Infusion Therapy

• Relocate these areas to former outpatient Fountain Centers and Behavioral Health space.
• Include 16 large presurgical and postsurgical rooms, as well as a procedure room.
• Co-locate these areas with operating room suites toward the front of the building.

Emergency Department

• Expand space to 16 beds, with 10 general care rooms, three safe rooms with views of the lake, and three observation rooms.
• Add patient and visitor waiting areas, including a reflection space.
• Create staff workstations with an improved line of sight to patient rooms.
• Increase overall security for staff and patients.
• Equip each room with telemedicine capability that also will be available on mobile workstations.

"The relocation and redesign of these patient care areas will allow us to support the transformation and growth of the practice by leveraging the latest technology to treat patients locally; retain and recruit the best talent; and enhance patient, family and staff experiences to remain in alignment with our community needs assessment," says Robert Albright Jr., D.O., regional vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in Southeast Minnesota.

The renovations and relocations are slated to begin in September and will occur in a phased approach over the following 18–24 months. All departments will remain fully operational throughout the project.

"This is an incredibly important project for our patients, our staff, Albert Lea, Austin and surrounding communities," says Sumit Bhagra, M.D., the site lead physician for Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin. "Our staff's commitment to providing Mayo Clinic care close to home and supporting practice growth over the past several years has been an essential component of making this investment become a reality."

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About Mayo Clinic Health System

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of clinics, hospitals and other facilities that serve the health care needs of people in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive highest-quality physical and virtual health care close to home.

Media contact:

• Rick Thiesse, Mayo Clinic Health System Public Affairs, 608-317-4325, thiesse.ricky@mayo.edu

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