DRAYTON, N.D. — The mayor of a northeast North Dakota community said it’s disheartening that Altru Health System will close most services at its clinic in town.
Drayton Mayor Charles Olson said the 30-day notice the city was given has left the town scrambling to fill the void.
Already, he said, community leaders have “put some feelers out to see if anyone is interested in filling that.”
Altru announced earlier this week that it will be closing clinic services — including primary care, lab and radiology services — on May 1. Therapy services will remain available. People who have scheduled appointments before May 1 will be seen, and those who have scheduled appointments at the location after May 1 will be contacted by the Altru team to reschedule. Therapy appointments will continue as planned at this time, the release said.
“Altru remains committed to the Drayton community,” said Heather Strandell, senior director of primary care. “Our therapy team will remain in the community, and we will help patients get connected with providers at our other locations, or via virtual care.”
Altru said the decision to close clinic services comes after an evaluation of the utilization of services.
The clinic has always been in the community, said Olson, staying open past the closure of Drayton’s hospital in the early to mid 1970s, changing location to the north side of town following the Flood of ’97.
“There have always been amazing people working there and great service and it’s just nice to have something like that in town,” he said.
When services close, people will have to drive out of town to visit a clinic, Olson said, with the nearest options being Grafton or Grand Forks. Though they’re not long distances at about 21 miles and 45 miles, respectively, Olson said it can be difficult for some to make the trip.
“Like most small communities we’re an aging community, and health care is very, very important,” he said. “You just hate to see people having to drive, especially in the winter, for appointments.”
Health care even 20 minutes away could be the difference between life and death in an emergency, Olson said, and he voiced his thanks that Drayton still has an ambulance service. The volunteer-led service is important to have in town, and he said the people who make it up don’t get enough credit for what they do.
“The next closest ambulance is Grafton,” he said. “If you have an emergency, 20 minutes could be a lifetime.”
Otto is the region reporter for the Obituary.