The Monticello-Big Lake Hospital District Board of Directors voted 7-0 Monday to move ahead with a restructuring of the Monticello Medical Group that will replace primary care with specialty care.

The action came after a 35-minute discussion during a special board meeting  with CentraCare Adminstration about long-range goals for the clinic.

Craig Broman, president of St. Cloud Hospital and CentraCare Health Regional Hospitals, said it’s been a challenge to maintain a successful, sustainable primary care practice at the clinic. 

He listed issues with recruitment, retention, duplication, productivity and financial concerns. The operating margin was $1,068,452 in the red in 2016. It improved to a negative $741,495 in 2017 and is $697,559 in the red so far in 2018. But productivity still hasn’t reached the 25% percentile.

“It’s not a trend we want to see,” he said. “It just emphasizes the challenge that took place year after year.”

He said the focus now is to use the space to better serve the community with specialized departments like cardiology, occupational medicine. perinatology, surgery, urology and diabetes

“We believe the recommendation is to repurpose that space for improving access to specialty physicians and by bringing more specialization to this medical campus,” he said.

Providers and staff in the clinic have been notified about the change.

Bryan Bauck, MHA, Co-Administrator/Chief Administrative Officer at CentraCare Health – Monticello, said the goal is to find other clinics for that personnel. He said they were confident they would all find positions with CentraCare.

Primary care services will be still available at Monticello Medical Group through the fall. CentraCare Health will continue to deliver primary care locally at CentraCare Clinic – Big Lake, CentraCare Clinic – Becker and the Clearwater Clinic, as well as partnering with local independent clinics.     

Joni Pawelk, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, said current Monticello Medical Group patients will be personally notified by letter which local CentraCare Clinic their provider will be joining.  

New Board Member

In other action, Linda Mielke was sworn in as the newest board member. She represents Silver Creek Twp.

Mielke has been a Silver Creek resident for over 30 years and brings to the board an extensive background in finance.