In what could be a move to protect the University of Minnesota’s medical facilities from a possible merger between M Health Fairview and South Dakota-based Sanford Health, the school announced the MPact Health Care Innovation vision. The goal for the University is to get a research hospital back on campus as part of a proposed expansion.
The plan comes after leaders at the Sanford and Fairview health said the University could negotiate to “repurchase” the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
“Fairview Health Services currently owns these facilities as part of our M Health Fairview affiliation agreement,” says University President Joan Gabel. “We are calling on Attorney General Ellison and Governor Walz, and the Minnesota Legislature, to support shifting these facilities to the University.”
At a press conference Thursday on campus, Gabel and the Dean of the Medical School, Jakub Tolar, talked about the importance of the medical school to the state and are looking for ways to expand the school’s hospital system.
Obtaining ownership of those hospitals would help lead the University toward building a state of the art hospital on land it's been acquiring over several years.
"We know health care is changing rapidly along with the needs and expectations of patients at home and around the globe,” said Gabel. “With great inspiration from Minnesota and with insights from University researchers, faculty, physicians and health care professionals, the MPact Health Care Innovation vision is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to channel our unique ability to elevate our state, improve the lives of all Minnesotans and position Minnesota as a global leader for the next century.”
The University said it remains committed to partnerships with health care providers across the state, including Fairview which is a nonprofit and took over the campus facility in 1997. Under the current agreement, Fairview pays the University $100 million a year.
Tolar says that it is clear great universities and great hospitals go hand-in-hand.
“We have a great research university, a great medical school and a great education program. It just makes sense that we have great hospital facilities in which we can combine all three in the same place,” said Jakub Tolar, dean of the U of M Medical School and vice president for clinical affairs. “Seven of the top 10 hospitals in the U.S. are directly associated with a medical school because that’s how you improve care quickly. You streamline the process of bringing groundbreaking therapies to patients. You improve the practice of medicine by changing it in real time. We want these benefits for Minnesota and to serve Minnesotans in ways that only a hospital associated with a leading research university can.”
To achieve some of their goals, officials said they would need government funding. In Thursday’s presentation, there were no dollar figures given. University leaders are calling for short- and long-term partnership from elected leaders, first by helping the University fund the shifting of health facilities to University ownership, upgrading the facilities and joining in the planning for a new, world-class medical center on the east bank of the Twin Cities campus which they say is critical to advancing the long-term health of Minnesotans.
“The University is ready to make this vision a reality,” said Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Myron Frans. “Within the University’s health care district, we have prudently acquired land over the years for a new hospital — space that will be more accessible for patients, that will better connect to our research and innovation spaces the State has already invested in and that leverages other investments for the greatest impact on our region.”
The University says greater detail is being developed and will be available soon, adding that the University has and will continue to contribute fully to discussions the Minnesota Attorney General and others are raising about the Fairview/Sanford proposal.
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