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Essentia Health's commitment to Fosston
May 13, 2026 By: Louie St. George
Essentia Health-Fosston hosting annual stroke and trauma awareness community event
In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month and National Trauma Awareness Month, Essentia Health is hosting its annual community stroke and trauma awareness grill-out in Fosston on Wednesday, May 20.
Open to all ages, this free event will be from 3-6 p.m. at Essentia Health-Fosston, located at 900 Hilligoss Blvd. SE.
Attendees will be able to enjoy brats and enter a raffle for a chance to win a new bike and helmet. Educational materials about bike safety and stroke and trauma care at Essentia Health-Fosston will also be available.
Young attendees are also encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to the Teddy Bear Clinic at the Essentia Health-Fosston Clinic. Teddy bear clinics help reduce fear and anxiety for kids by giving them a sense of control and confidence through play in a medical setting.
Essentia Health-Fosston breaks ground on new emergency department
Essentia Health leaders, staff and project partners gathered Wednesday, April 8, to break ground on a new emergency department at Essentia Health-Fosston, marking the start of construction on a $12 million project that will improve the patient experience and strengthen care for the Fosston community.
"As a critical access hospital serving a rural region, Essentia Health-Fosston plays an essential role in providing timely, high-quality care close to home," said Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, Essentia Health West Market president. "This new emergency department will help us better meet the needs of patients and families in Fosston and the surrounding area. We are proud to continue investing in this community and the people who depend on us every day."
The new emergency department will add more than 5,500 square feet and will be more user-friendly, fostering a confidential and safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. It will feature rooms specially designed for patients needing behavioral health care and also will include a new ambulance bay. This project represents a significant investment in the Essentia Health-Fosston campus. Project leaders from Kraus-Anderson as well as students from Fosston High School joined Essentia Health to celebrate the milestone.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT UPDATE
Essentia Health-Fosston recognized among best critical access hospitals in U.S.
Underscoring its success navigating increasing challenges facing rural health care, Essentia Health-Fosston is proud to be named a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
This recognition places Essentia Health-Fosston among the best-performing critical access hospitals in the nation, which are "committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication, and innovation," according to Michael Topchik, executive director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
"This validates all the hard work we put into ensuring that our patients in Fosston and the nearby towns have 24/7 access to the best health care possible," said Mike Curtis, administrator at Essentia Health-Fosston. "Our colleagues are passionate about showing up every day to serve their family, friends and neighbors."
READ MORE ABOUT THIS RECOGNITION
Planning progresses on new $12 million emergency department at Essentia Health-Fosston
Work will start on a new emergency department at Essentia Health-Fosston this spring following the selection of Kraus-Anderson as the general contractor.
The $12 million project will enhance the patient experience, add more than 5,500 square feet of space and mark another significant investment in Essentia’s campus and the Fosston community.
"We can't wait to get started on this work, which will be a win for our patients, colleagues and the entire Fosston community, including the surrounding areas, from Erskine to Bagley and Oklee to Clearbrook," said Mike Curtis, administrator at Essentia Health-Fosston. "Health care is always changing, and these improvements will allow us to continue delivering exceptional care 24/7 to the patients we're honored to serve."
Essentia Health and Kraus-Anderson underscored the importance of partnering with local subcontractors to maximize the regional economic impact of this project. Essentia's initial request for proposal stipulated that local vendors be chosen if they are capable of doing the work. About 75% of the subcontractors are from the area.
Statement from Essentia Health
Here is a statement from Essentia Health regarding comments made by Fosston Mayor Jim Offerdahl during a Fosston City Council meeting in mid-December 2025:
“Essentia Health’s commitment to Fosston and the surrounding communities is unwavering. For the mayor to suggest otherwise is misleading and irresponsible. It has needlessly created confusion for some of our patients, who have reached out to inquire about the status of their appointments and the care they rely on.
“Essentia expects to serve this region well into the future, which is why we continue to invest in our care team, our campus and the community. We’re grateful for the trust patients place in us every day.”
Clarifying important facts about affiliation agreement
On Nov. 21, 2025, the City of Fosston issued a press release that mischaracterized the affiliation agreement between First Care Medical Services and Essentia Health.
After reading the latest commentary from city officials, it's important to clarify several facts regarding the 2009 affiliation agreement. The City is “demanding” that Essentia “return” First Care to the City. However, it never belonged to the City. First Care transferred all its membership interest to Essentia. As a result, Essentia has been the sole owner of First Care since 2009. The City has no membership or ownership interest. To suggest otherwise is inaccurate.
READ THE FULL LETTER FROM ESSENTIA HERE
Essentia Health holding annual tree walk and angel fundraiser for hospice
This holiday season, Essentia Health-Fosston invites the community to attend its 21st annual Tree Walk for Hospice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. Open to all ages, this event will be held at Magelssen Elementary School at 700 First St. E. in Fosston.
The Tree Walk raises funds to provide specialized care to the patients and families served through hospice.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS FUNDRAISER
Essentia Health focused on moving forward in Fosston
At Essentia Health, we are guided by a mission that is intentionally simple and ambitious — to make a healthy difference in people's lives. At the heart of that objective is a commitment to care for others. That compels us to always look for opportunities to improve health care, but it goes beyond that. It demands collaboration, civic engagement and relationship-building so we can uplift the communities we serve and call home. When those elements come together, boundaries disappear and are replaced by progress.
Essentia Health is proud of the advancements we’ve made in local care. We’re also grateful for the many partnerships that allow us to more broadly spark change and ignite innovation. And we expect to continue this work in and around Fosston for years to come, regardless of the rumors and misinformation being spread by city officials. It’s been more than a year since a neutral arbitration panel ruled in favor of Essentia Health, finding that we are meeting terms of the affiliation agreement signed with the City in 2009, and that we continue to provide comprehensive care and services to area residents. The panel also emphasized that Essentia — and not elected officials — should make medical, financial and legal decisions about services and care in Fosston.
READ MORE ABOUT ESSENTIA'S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO FOSSTON
Essentia Health-Fosston provides trauma care close to home with hospital re-designation
The Minnesota Department of Health has re-designated Essentia Health-Fosston as a Level IV Trauma Hospital. This designation is valid for three years.
To achieve this, staff voluntarily participated in the intense designation process to become part of Minnesota's statewide trauma system. The process included an independent review of the hospital's resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients. Essentia Health-Fosston met standards of commitment, clinical and equipment resources and staff training. The hospital also participates in a continuous performance-improvement process to ensure we are keeping expert care close to home for the patients we serve.
"We are incredibly proud to be re-designated as a Level IV trauma hospital," said Fosston hospital administrator Mike Curtis. "We want our community to know that their local hospital is equipped to provide this critical care and is part of a larger network of skilled facilities across Minnesota."
READ MORE ABOUT THIS DESIGNATION
Essentia Health partners with local groups to identify community health needs and drive improvements in Fosston
Essentia Health's mission is to make a healthy difference in people's lives, and that work extends beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics.
Just like patients, each community has unique needs. To determine priorities, Essentia conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years in each community that is home to one of its 14 hospitals. Town hall meetings, focus groups and surveys are among the ways Essentia collects information on what is important to people and what gaps we can help to address.
Fosston is one of the 14 communities surveyed by Essentia.
Our most recent CHNA identified three primary needs for Essentia Health-Fosston’s service area: social drivers of health, nutrition and physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Essentia Health Living Center recognized for excellence with four-star rating from federal government
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized the Essentia Health Living Center's commitment to excellence with a four-star quality rating. CMS' Nursing Home Care Compare website features a quality rating system that gives each nursing home between one and five stars.
Four stars is the second-highest rating a medical facility can receive from CMS and is based on performance across three categories — health inspections, staffing and quality measures. By continuing to invest in its staff and services, Essentia is focused on providing all of its patients and residents in the Fosston area with the highest-quality care. Highlighting that point: The CMS rating for the Living Center includes a perfect five out of five stars on staffing.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS RECOGNITION
Essentia Health, Fosston Public Schools extend sports medicine contract
Essentia Health and Fosston Public Schools are extending their sports medicine contract. The new, 10-year agreement builds on a successful partnership and marks a significant investment in the health and well-being of students in the community. Essentia Health and Fosston Public Schools have had a similar agreement in place for the past 12 years.
The new contract, approved by the Fosston School Board on Monday, July 21, has a value of more than $1 million to the district and ensures Essentia will remain the sole provider of sports medicine services for student-athletes at Fosston High School. In addition to a $100,000 sponsorship, Essentia will continue to provide a full-time athletic trainer. Jennifer Francis has been Essentia's athletic trainer in Fosston since 2018.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP
Essentia Health restores on-site diabetes testing in Fosston
Essentia Health is pleased to announce that all steps of diabetes testing will once again be performed at its Fosston campus. Diabetes testing, otherwise known as A1C testing, has long been offered in Fosston. However, in the past year, blood samples collected locally were sent to an off-site laboratory for analysis, resulting in longer turnaround times. With the return of on-site analysis capabilities, patients and providers can now expect significantly faster results — often available the same day.
Essentia clarifies inaccuracies in response to City of Fosston
On May 5, 2025, the City of Fosston sent a new letter to Essentia Health reiterating its intention to terminate our affiliation agreement and assume control of First Care Medical Services (FCMS). However, the City mischaracterized two important parts of the affiliation agreement. Essentia recently responded to the City with a letter that seeks to reaffirm our position regarding ownership and control of FCMS and to clarify inaccuracies.
READ ESSENTIA’S LETTER TO THE CITY OF FOSSTON
Essentia Health-Fosston announces significant investment to upgrade emergency department, enhance patient care
Recognizing an opportunity to enhance emergency care and support the Fosston and neighboring communities, Essentia Health-Fosston is moving toward finalizing a $12 million investment to dramatically expand the emergency department.
The new ED is expected to be 6,700 square feet — compared to the current 1,100-square-foot space — and will greatly improve patient flow and confidentiality; employee and patient safety; infection control; EMS access; and overall efficiency. Planning for the addition includes a new ambulance bay and rooms designed specifically for patients needing behavioral health care.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS INVESTMENT
Essentia Health-Fosston introduces comprehensive weight management service
Looking for new ways to best serve our patients, Essentia Health-Fosston is excited to introduce a comprehensive weight management service designed to help people achieve their weight loss and wellness goals.
The robust team includes Kari Gudmundson, a nurse practitioner and certified weight management specialist; certified dietitian and diabetic educator Sarah Wills; and physical therapists Jacob Vossler, Rhonda Breitbach and Peter Flaa. Additional support from our behavioral health specialists and pharmacists is available if needed.
Weight loss has numerous benefits, including — most importantly — improved quality of life. It can prevent or minimize health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Patients report higher energy levels and fewer aches and pains.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS NEW SERVICE
From the Thirteen Towns — January 2025
Letter: While rural health care has changed, our commitment to Fosston hasn't
Dr. Stefanie Gefroh writes about Essentia Health's continued commitment to Fosston and surrounding communities.
Essentia remains committed to providing high-quality care in Fosston and retaining ownership of First Care Medical Services
In a letter sent to the City of Fosston today, Essentia Health and First Care Medical Services (FCMS) assert that the City does not have the authority to unilaterally terminate the 2009 affiliation agreement or force the transfer of FCMS to the City. Instead, it is Essentia's position that the City can only terminate its own participation in the affiliation agreement overseeing health care in the Fosston area.
As a result, Essentia accepts the City's Nov. 26 decision to remove itself from the affiliation agreement, while we continue to own and operate FCMS, which includes the Fosston hospital, nursing home and neighboring clinics.
As always, we remain committed to providing excellent local health care, and patients should not expect to see any operational changes despite the City's action.
Essentia responds to City of Fosston's "notice to terminate"
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, Essentia Health responded to the City of Fosston's late-November announcement about terminating its affiliation agreement with Essentia.
In a letter to the City, Essentia and First Care Medical Services (FCMS) reinforced our belief that the City doesn't have the authority to unilaterally terminate the 2009 agreement or force the transfer of FCMS to the City. Instead, we believe the City can only terminate its own participation in the affiliation agreement overseeing health care in the Fosston area.
READ ESSENTIA’S LETTER TO THE CITY OF FOSSTON
Complete arbitration panel ruling
In September 2024, a neutral arbitration panel ruled that Essentia Health is meeting the requirements of our 2009 affiliation agreement with the City of Fosston. As a result, the panel noted that "the City does not have the right to terminate the Affiliation Agreement or compel the transfer of Essentia's interest in First Care (Medical Services) to the City."
The panel also determined that Essentia has continued to provide comprehensive care and services in Fosston.
The ruling ensured that Essentia will continue to operate the hospital, clinic and nursing home in Fosston, as well as clinics in Bagley and Oklee.
READ THE ARBITRATION PANEL'S COMPLETE RULING
Statement from Essentia Health
Here is a statement from Essentia Health regarding the City of Fosston's announcement on Nov. 26 that elected officials voted to terminate the city's affiliation agreement with Essentia:
"We have received notice that elected officials with the City of Fosston voted this morning to terminate the city’s affiliation agreement with Essentia Health. Essentia, like many members of the public, was unaware of this special meeting. We are reviewing the notice to determine our next steps.
We do not believe the city has the right to terminate the affiliation agreement. A neutral arbitration panel in September ruled in Essentia’s favor, affirming our longstanding belief that we have operated within the requirements of the 2009 agreement with the city. The panel also ruled that the city didn’t have the right to terminate the agreement.
This is another distraction from the important work of advancing health care in Fosston. As it has throughout this process, that will remain our focus — to provide the best care we can for patients across this region."
Essentia Health holding annual tree walk and angel fundraiser for hospice
This holiday season, Essentia Health-Fosston will host its 20th annual Tree Walk for Hospice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. Open to all ages, this community event will be held at Magelssen Elementary School at 700 First St. E. in Fosston.
Angel tree ornaments — a pair of angel wings — will also be available for purchase in honor or memory of a loved one. The suggested donation is $10 per ornament. Ornaments can also be mailed and will be available while supplies last.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY EVENT AND FUNDRAISER
From the Fargo Forum — October 2024
Letter: The future of health care in Fosston
Dr. Stefanie Gefroh writes about arbitration between the city of Fosston and Essentia Health.
READ THE FULL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Essentia Health welcomes two new Fosston providers
Dr. Amanda Jackson-Morgan, who specializes in family medicine, is excited to join the Essentia Health-Fosston Clinic.
"I wanted to practice at Essentia Health-Fosston so I could continue to practice full-spectrum rural family medicine," explained Dr. Jackson-Morgan. "I enjoy working in all aspects of patient care — clinic, hospital and OB. The welcoming and supportive community was also an important factor in choosing to come to Fosston."
READ MORE ABOUT DR. JACKSON-MORGAN
Breah Christianson, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner specializing in emergency medicine, is excited to join Essentia Health-Fosston.
"I did my nurse practitioner clinicals within the Essentia system and enjoyed how things worked and the providers I worked with," said Christianson. "I enjoy the values that guide Essentia."
READ MORE ABOUT BREAH CHRISTIANSON
Community health impact survey seeks input from Fosston area
Every three years, Essentia Health and all nonprofit health systems in Minnesota conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) in collaboration with the communities we serve.
Through the Community Health Needs Assessment process, we work together with community partners to pursue shared goals that will make a meaningful impact and a healthy difference beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics. That process is about to begin in Fosston and the surrounding area.
We invite the public to participate in the Fosston area community health survey now through Oct. 31. It is available online in both English and Spanish at Fosston Community Health Needs Assessment Survey.
Arbitration panel rules in favor of Essentia Health — September 2024
An arbitration panel has ruled in favor of Essentia Health in its dispute with the City of Fosston.
The neutral panel of arbitrators has shared its decision, affirming our position that we have operated the Fosston hospital within the requirements of the affiliation agreement we signed with the City in 2009. The arbitration hearing occurred in the middle of July.
This ruling means that Essentia will continue to operate the hospital, clinic, assisted-living and long-term care facilities in Fosston, as well as clinics in Bagley and Oklee.
"Now that the arbitration process is over, Essentia is focused on the opportunity to engage our patients, colleagues and the community in building a shared vision for the future of health care in Fosston," said Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, interim president of Essentia Health's West Market. "We look forward to working with city leaders in support of that objective and for the patients we're honored to serve."
This dispute has brought new awareness to the many challenges faced by rural health care providers. As leaders in rural health care, Essentia is committed to ensuring patients have high-quality, compassionate care as close to home as possible.
Statement from Essentia Health
Here is a statement from Essentia Health on Friday, July 19, regarding misinformation being shared by the City of Fosston and Mayor Jim Offerdahl:
"It is unfortunate that the mayor continues to provide misinformation to the public. Essentia Health will remain in Fosston and operate the hospital if we are successful in arbitration. This announcement by the City of Fosston is premature, as there has been no ruling by the arbitration panel. The panel will collect information through Friday (July 19), after which it has 60 days to issue a ruling. Essentia will respectfully await the panel's decision.
Essentia's commitment to Fosston is unwavering. Our valued professionals continue to provide expert and compassionate care for the patients in this community we are honored to serve."
Community discussion insights — spring/summer 2024
Essentia Health would like to stay in Fosston and is working in good faith through the arbitration process that begins with the city in July.
Every day, Essentia Health-Fosston serves people with diverse health care needs. As we discuss the future of care locally, Essentia believes all voices deserve to be heard and respected.
From the Fargo Forum — July 2024
Letter: Essentia Health wants to stay in the Fosston community
The future of health care in Fosston is in the hands of a three-judge arbitration panel that will hear testimony this month from Essentia Health and the city of Fosston.
READ THE FULL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A letter to our community — June 2024
Every day, Essentia Health-Fosston serves people with many health care needs. As the future of care in Fosston is discussed, we’re engaging the community to ensure all voices are heard, understood and valued.
Essentia would like to stay in Fosston and continue providing high-quality care for the community. We understand the dispute with the City of Fosston raises many questions and concerns. Essentia is working through arbitration, which will occur in early July.
A letter to our community — April 2024
Since 2009, Essentia Health has been the main provider of health care in Fosston and the surrounding area. Because of our deep roots here, we want to share our thoughts and hear from you about the future of care in this community.
First and foremost, Essentia does not want to leave Fosston. Caring for our community is Essentia's top priority. We will continue to provide the high-quality health care our patients expect and deserve, even now during the city’s desire to enter into arbitration and take back First Care Medical Services as owned and operated by Essentia Health, which includes the hospital, nursing home and clinics in Fosston, Bagley and Oklee.
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune — February 2024
Counterpoint: Why Essentia is adjusting baby delivery services in northwestern Minnesota
The discontinuation or relocation of hospital services has made headlines across the state. Those conversations are often accompanied by assertions that finances are the only factor driving these decisions.
A focus on specialty services in Fosston
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