Allina Health Revamps Care Access at Mercy Hospital Campuses in Coon Rapids, Fridley Amidst Opposition

Allina Health, a leading Minnesota-based health system, has announced significant changes to services and care access at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, and Mercy Hospital-Unity Campus in Fridley. The adjustments are part of Allina Health's strategy to ensure that both campuses continue to provide high-quality care to patients and communities they serve in the future.

Reasons Behind the Changes

The changes have been triggered by a range of factors including a low intensive care unit (ICU) census at the Mercy Hospital-Unity campus, decreasing volumes for pediatric inpatient care at Coon Rapids campus, and the need for costly renovations in the operating rooms at the Mercy Hospital-Unity campus. Allina Health aims to align its resources with these realities, focusing on areas where demand is high and streamlining services where patient volume is dwindling.

Changes in Services

Allina Health's plan involves the Unity Campus focusing on addiction and mental health, emergency and inpatient services, while the Coon Rapids location is set to expand its surgical capacity. This strategic reorganization will better utilize the strengths of each campus, catering to the specific healthcare needs of the local communities they serve.

Impact on Employees and Response from the Minnesota Nurses Association

The changes, however, have been met with opposition from the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), which has expressed concerns about the impact on registered nurse positions, particularly at the Unity Campus, where 63 full-time equivalent Registered Nurse positions are reportedly under threat. The MNA has emphasized the need to hold executives accountable to patient needs and has drawn attention to the challenges faced by nurses due to the conditions under Allina executive leadership.

Allina Health's Commitment to Employees

Allina Health has assured that it is working to match impacted employees with open roles throughout the health system, thus minimizing potential job losses. This commitment to its workforce is consistent with Allina Health's history of employee care, as exemplified by a recent incident where employees saved the life of a coworker who suffered a cardiac arrest at work. Allina Health team members' quick response, driven by their basic life support (BLS) training, saved their colleague's life, demonstrating the organization's dedication to the well-being of its employees.

Allina Health's Mental Health and Addiction Services

Allina Health offers hospital-based mental health and substance use disorder services at Mercy Hospital and Mercy Hospital-Unity Campus. These include inpatient treatment, partial hospital program, outpatient clinics, adult day treatment program, and more. Their services cater to people of all ages, including older adults with mental health conditions, and they provide diagnostic and treatment services for adults and older adults with acute psychiatric disorders. Additionally, they offer walk-in, walk-out diagnostic and treatment services for children, adolescents, and adults who have acute or chronic psychiatric disorders.

The changes at Mercy Hospital campuses in Coon Rapids and Fridley are part of a larger narrative of healthcare providers adapting to changing patient demographics and healthcare needs. As Allina Health navigates these changes, the focus remains on delivering high-quality care to patients and supporting its dedicated workforce.