The planning commission heard testimony from Trinity Health against approving the project but also took testimony in favor of the project from a local health professional and developers at a public hearing Tuesday.

Exceptional Healthcare of Dallas, Texas, is proposing a hospital on the northside of the U.S. Highway 83 Bypass at Eighth Street Northwest. The small hospital would serve to handle emergencies and related procedures, with 19 beds for short-term in-patient services.

Trinity Health CEO/President John Kutch spoke of serious reservations and concerns regarding a for-profit micro-hospital due to its potential impact on the healthcare infrastructure, workforce and overall community wellbeing. He said there is no evidence suggesting an ongoing, unmet capacity issue in health services in Minot.

“While we understand and welcome innovation and competition in many ways, the unique nature of healthcare requires us to consider both near term and long term implications of this proposal,” Kutch said.

Jill Schramm/MDN Trinity President/CEO John Kutch addresses the Minot Planning Commission Tuesday. Commissioner Darrik Trudell is shown at right.

He cited the strain on an already limited healthcare workforce and the risk of service fragmentation with a new hospital focusing solely on profitable services. Cynthia Dixon, chief nursing officer at Trinity, reiterated concerns about finding workers to staff two hospitals.

Elyssa Bakk, a Minot nurse who works outside the community, spoke in support of a hospital in north Minot.

“A second hospital would drastically improve access to healthcare, particularly for the residents in the north part of town and our Air Force base,” she said. “It also would reduce the burden on our sole hospital, allowing them to operate more efficiently, provide quicker care to those in need. The current strain on our sole hospital staff is significant.

“A second hospital would encourage innovation, improve standards of care and ensure healthcare professionals have choices, fostering a sustainable healthcare ecosystem in our community,” she added. “It’s about shaping the future of healthcare in Minot. It’s about making sure that hardworking professionals like myself and others don’t leave our town for better opportunities. It’s about creating a community where families can thrive and where residents can receive care in a timely manner and the care that they deserve.”

Dr. Jeffrey Sather, medical director of Trinity’s trauma center, raised concern about the proposed hospital’s ability to provide adequate emergency services.

“We’re talking about a place where time-sensitive emergencies can’t be dealt with because there’s no depth of services. There’s no neurologist when you have your stroke. There’s no cardiologist when you need to go to a cath lab. The heliport is needed not to take patients in. It’s needed to take patients out to the facility that can handle them,” he said.

Minot Airport Director Jennifer Eckman mentioned the need to look at Federal Aviation Administration regulations because a proposed helipad would fall in the airport’s protected air space. She asked that any approval carry a condition that site plans address any airspace conflicts.

Don Nicolini, vice president of Real Estate Development with Exceptional Healthcare, said a helipad is not necessary but is part of current considerations. He also mentioned the company has discussed the airspace issue with Eckman and is aware of actions needed if a helipad remains part of the design.

Tuesday’s action included a request for a zone change from agricultural to general commercial, a designation that allows for a hospital. The request also included a future land use map amendment and preliminary plat.

Principal Planner Doug Diedrichsen said before a project goes forward, the developer would need to create a site plan and work with all city departments in the process of acquiring a building permit. The city council also will need to approve a final plat on two readings and approve a developer’s agreement.

However, Planning Commissioner Robert Kibler said he remembers when there was no medical care in north Minot at the time of the 2011 flood.

“It seems to me that this medical facility, which is not a full facility, fulfills some definite need because, if anything, Trinity has moved further, not closer,” he said. “So, with a town population of 50,000-plus and growing – future use, I see a real, exciting need for any kind of medical facility in the north that would be closer to me, my family and my neighbors.”