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Published May 19, 2011, 08:05 PM

Altru Health System, Mayo Clinic enhance affiliation

Altru to be first not owned by Mayo to share famed clinic's name
Patients of Altru Health System will soon have increased access to more specialized care closer to home as part of a new affiliation agreement with world-renowned Mayo Clinic. The partnership will allow Altru physicians to consult with Mayo Clinic experts as well as access the resources of the Rochester, Minn.-based health care giant.

  • Altru and Mayo's formal announcement
    • image
    Dr. David C. Herman, center, of the Mayo Clinic, joins Casey Ryan, president of Altru Health Systems, left, and Altru CEO Dave Molmen to answer questions following Thursday's announcement that Altru and the Mayo Clinic were formalizing and affiliation. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Altru Health System logo

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Altru Health System announced a new affiliation with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic during a news conference that began at noon today inside the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

As part of the agreement Altru is expected to add a tagline to its corporate name to reflect its relationship with the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.

Altru will become the first health care facility not owned by Mayo Clinic to share part of the health care organization's name.

The agreement does not include a merger or a buyout. Altru will maintain local control over its operations and is not being acquired or becoming part of the Mayo Clinic.

Unlike the recent mergers involving MeritCare becoming part of Sanford Health and Innovis joining Essentia, the affiliation with the Mayo Clinic is more about sharing resources and working together to improve patient care and access to care and does not include Altru being absorbed by a larger health system or a change in ownership.

"Altru physicians have long worked with our colleagues at Mayo Clinic, and this agreement is the natural next step in this relationship," said Dr. Casey Ryan, Altru Health System president.

As part of the partnership, Altru Health providers will be able consult with Mayo Clinic experts and share Mayo Clinic resources.

"Altru physicians will have access to Mayo Clinic's evidence-based disease management protocols, clinical care guidelines, treatment recommendations and reference materials for complex medical conditions," according to an joint news release.

"Examples of current collaborations include pediatric and cancer services. Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologists travel to Grand Forks to provide care for Altru's patients, saving many families the expense and disruption of frequent travel to Rochester.

"In addition, Altru Cancer Center has worked with Mayo Clinic as part of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group to provide patients with access to clinical trials that test emerging cancer treatment options. These aspects will continue and will be enhanced by the affiliation."

This is a BREAKING NEWS story. Check back to GrandForksHerald.com later today and read Friday's Herald newspaper for the latest on this story.

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