Staff Writer- Emily Heins

As of recently, the Mayo Clinic has announced that they are shutting down six small-town clinics throughout southeastern Minnesota and relocating to larger cities. These towns include Saint Peter, Belle Plaine, Caledonia, and Montgomery. The decision came as a shock to many Saint Peter residents, especially given the city’s history with Mayo, dating back to Dr. W.W. Mayo’s first practice, just a few miles away in Le Sueur in 1859.
Mayo officials cited staffing shortages, declining patient volumes, and financial pressures as key reasons behind the closures. Running small clinics, they explained, requires resources that are increasingly difficult to sustain in rural areas. Instead, the health system will focus on larger hubs—such as the recently expanded hospital campus in Mankato—where Saint Peter patients will now be redirected. Analysts see the move as part of Mayo’s broader strategy to reduce its physical footprint and concentrate services in fewer, more efficient locations.
For residents, though, financial logic doesn’t soften the blow.
“I knew rural healthcare services in Minnesota had been struggling with rising costs and staff shortages, but I’m still disappointed,” one St. Peter resident reflected.
That disappointment is compounded by wider challenges. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 46% of adults in southern Minnesota reported difficulty affording healthcare last year. When costs outpace wages, families are more likely to delay appointments, skip prescriptions, or put off preventive care—decisions that often snowball into more serious health problems. And while Mankato may only be a 10–20 minute drive away, that distance creates real barriers for seniors, people with disabilities, or residents without reliable transportation.

Mayo officials stress they are not pulling out of Saint Peter entirely. To ease the transition, the health system is expanding access to its virtual care services, including a 24/7 Primary Care On Demand app and nurse triage line. Programs like Advanced Care at Home will continue bringing hospital-level treatment directly to patients through remote monitoring and in-person visits from medical staff. Nursing home residents in town will still receive provider visits, and patients will retain access to medical records, prescriptions, and providers through Mayo’s online portal.
The closure also raises unique concerns on the Gustavus Adolphus College campus. Many students rely on local clinics for urgent care, routine checkups, and prescriptions. Without an in-town option, those without cars will need to arrange transportation to Mankato or beyond—an added cost and time burden for busy students and staff who previously used the clinic for their primary care.
For Gustavus students, the change may also bring added challenges. Many rely on local clinics for urgent needs, routine checkups, or prescription refills. Without a clinic in town, students without cars will need to arrange transportation to Mankato or other nearby cities—adding both time and cost for busy college students. The closure will also affect our faculty and staff who used that clinic for their primary care.
However, Gustavus students will continue to have access to on-campus healthcare.
“As the medical home for our students, we will continue providing comprehensive care for everything from illnesses and injuries to wellness and mental health support,” Director of Health Services Heather Dale said.
The Health Service will also continue working closely with River’s Edge Hospital and the Mankato Clinic to connect students with advanced or after-hours care.
As Saint Peter adjusts, both residents and students face a new healthcare landscape—one where access, affordability, and community support will matter more than ever.