SPRINGFIELD — Mayo Clinic Health System announced the coming closure of the Springfield hospital and clinic and Lamberton clinic Tuesday.

The decision was prompted by declining patient volumes, physician shortages and upcoming accreditation concerns, said Dr. James Hebl, Mayo Clinic Health System regional vice president.

Patients can receive care in Springfield and Lamberton until March 1.

Hebl said a Minnesota-based health care organization has expressed strong interest in opening an outpatient clinic in Springfield.

Earlier this year, Avera Health explored taking over Springfield operations before opting not to proceed.

Springfield City Manager/EDA Director Joe Stremcha said he and city leaders are hopeful another health care provider will be found to keep facilities open in Springfield and Lamberton.

“We’re still optimistic about the future of health care in Springfield. Lamberton is on our call list too,” Stremcha said. “We’re all going through this together. We’re meeting with Mayo Clinic Health Care today and as need be to review the lease agreement and plan for transitions.”

Stremcha said he and local leaders are working with a couple third parties that want to remain discreet for now. “We’ll know more as we work with them in the coming days. We’ll share it when we identify a partner,” Stremcha said. “Right now it’s a death in the family culture. We’re working on keeping the doors open in any capacity.” Stremcha said negotiating with health care providers is not new.

“These conservations have been going on the last two years. They (Mayo Clinic Health System) have tried different things to make it work. We hope we can move forward with another health care partner,” Stremcha said. “We’re looking forward to those conversations.”

First District 2018 Democratic Congressional candidate Dan Feehan, who lost a close vote to Republican Jim Hagedorn, released a statement on the closing.

“I was devastated to hear about the closure of the Mayo Clinic hospital and emergency room in Springfield,” Feehan said. “I saw firsthand the resilience and strength of Springfield after the flood of 2018. In Congress, I will fight every single day to make sure it is stronger than ever.”

Feehan said rural healthcare has been overlooked by DC politicians like Hagedorn for too long.

“Instead of funding programs to address the rural healthcare worker shortage and deliver broadband Internet, Congress chose to give tax cuts to billionaires,” Feehan said. “Instead of investing in USDA rural health grants in southern Minnesota, Congress chose to prioritize giveaways to mega corporations. Instead of achieving universal health care coverage, Congress chose to protect the interests of for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical companies.”

Feehan said he will fight for full funding of USDA rural health grants to ensure clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals don’t shut down. He said he’d fight for a public option to ensure patients have affordable coverage so they can go to their local clinic or hospital.

Springfield clinic hours are 7:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 625 N. Jackson Ave. Urgent care hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. No appointments are needed.