Essentia Health Public Meeting In Fosston

FOSSTON, MN—Tuesday night’s public meeting in Fosston about Essentia Health’s decision to stop delivering babies at its Fosston hospital drew about 200 people between online and in person visitors. You’ll remember in June 2022, Essentia Health-Fosston stopped labor and delivery services.  Fosston Mayor Jim Offerdahl points out that delivering babies is part of Essentia Health’s contract with the City of Fosston.

And at the time, Fosston residents were told in a memo last May the birthing services would be coming back.  At Tuesday’s meeting, Essentia administrator Callen Weispfenning said this:

And Essentia Health Senior Vice President Tanner Goodrich pointed to declines in Fosston’s population and the number of births at the local hospital.

Mayor Offerdahl says the best way to restore birthing services in Fosston will be with a hospital that’s run locally.

And what’s the next step in solving this matter?

No notice was given from Essentia Health about its decision to end birthing services in Fosston.  R&J News will continue to follow this story.     (Some audio from Minnesota News Network)