The United Hospital District (UHD) in Blue Earth recently purchased the Dulcimer Medical Center building in Fairmont.

United Hospital District (UHD) in Blue Earth made a big move right at the end of 2021.

In a press release this past week, UHD announced it had purchased the Dulcimer Medical Center building and property in Fairmont from Center Point Holdings, LLC, a partnership of Dr. Steven Parnell, Dr. Jon Erickson and their spouses that includes Dr. Parnell’s medical practice and Dr. Erickson’s Fairmont Family Dentistry dental practice.

UHD’s CEO, Rick Ash, said the purchase of the property has been in the works for some time.

“Basically, our UHD Clinic in Fairmont, which we started in 2016, has maxed out, and is at full capacity,” Ash said. “We have no more room to expand where we are, to put in more exam rooms, and we are landlocked in the site as far as building on goes.”

Ash says they needed room for the clinic to grow and the other option would have been to build.

“This (Dulcimer purchase) will really work out for us, and for Dr. Parnell and Dr. Erickson,” Ash said. “They are able to stay in the building for now.”

UHD’s new ownership of the site will not interrupt either practice’s day to day operations and patients of both practices can continue to receive services in the same location, according to the press release.

Ash said UHD will be moving into the building at some point in the future. Currently, Dr. Parnell’s medical practice fills 3/4 of the building, with Dr. Erickson’s dental practice in the other quarter of the building.

While the dental practice will remain independent, Dr. Parnell’s medical practice will eventually assimilate in with UHD.

Dr. Parnell has been in practice for many years, and has been a member of UHD’s medical staff since 2010.

“Dr. Parnell has worked with us over the years,” Ash said. “He delivers babies here at UHD, for instance. I believe he delivered over 30 babies here last year.”

There are some other reasons the purchase is considered a win-win for continued health care in the area.

“This is an exciting development and the agreement is important for several reasons,” says Ash. “It enhances our longstanding relationship with Dr. Parnell, it provides a framework to keep healthcare local and it creates new opportunities to expand UHD’s services in Fairmont. My hope is that we will collaborate to ultimately bring more healthcare to Martin County, as well as in Blue Earth.”

Ash said as far as a name for the new facility, that is still under discussion.

“Some of that decision will be made later, depending on future partnerships,” the UHD CEO said. “I would think it would be something like UHD-Dulcimer Medical Clinic, but no decision has been made.”

Ash said they plan to keep all employees, and still hire and recruit staff.

“We are just very excited about this, we consider it a big step,” Ash said. “It may create more options for us, in the interim, to bring healthcare to both Martin and Faribault counties. That has always been our primary goal.”

Dr. Parnell agrees with that statement, according to a quote in the press release.

“As an independent practice, we’ve always explored care options that are in the best interest of our patients. Fairmont is a beautiful community and we don’t want to see medical services leave the area. By partnering with UHD, we strengthen our footprint and improve the ability to offer more. My staff and I look forward to maintaining our relationships with our patients.”

The Dulcimer Medical Center building was constructed in 2008 and opened in 2009.

United Hospital District (uhd.org), based in Blue Earth, is an independent and award-winning system of care comprised of a 25-bed acute care hospital, comprehensive outpatient services, ambulance service and a home health/hospice care program, all supported by a 20-plus multi-specialty provider group with four clinic locations across two counties.