John Kutch

Trinity Health announced Tuesday, March 17, it would not return clinical or administrative services to its St. Joseph’s Hospital location following an issue with the building’s boiler in January.

President and CEO John Kutch acknowledged the historic importance of St. Joseph’s Hospital to the Minot community and surrounding region since 1911 in a letter announcing the decision. Kutch wrote Trinity Health had proactively transitioned services and operations following the mechanical incident on Jan. 3, and a comprehensive evaluation of the building and its infrastructure was performed to determine if the location continued to align with the hospital’s “intermediate and long-term facility strategy and our broader vision for how healthcare will be delivered across our region in the years ahead.”

“This decision regarding the St. Joseph’s location also supports Trinity Health’s long-term strategy to further develop the Healthcare Campus and Medical District as a central hub for advanced, coordinated care delivery. Future development on the campus will include additional buildings and space designed to better support patient needs, improve care coordination and enhance the overall care experience for those we serve,” Kutch wrote.

Kutch wrote the services previously housed at St. Joseph’s have been successfully transitioned to other Trinity Health facilities which he said were better equipped to support modern healthcare delivery, advanced technology and the future growth of the Trinity Health system.

These services and departments include inpatient rehabilitation and Health Information Management which were transitioned to the Healthcare Campus and Medical District; financial services and Dot’s Uniform Shop to Trinity Health Medical Arts; and the mailroom to Trinity Health at Elk Drive.

Adult and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry services have been temporarily paused, according to Kutch, while space within Trinity Health Hospital is renovated to meet current safety and regulatory requirements for inpatient behavioral health services. Planning for the renovations is underway with Adult Inpatient Psychiatry services expected to resume once all updates are completed. Kutch indicated the timeline for the return of Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry services is in progress.

“During this transition period, our Behavioral Health and Emergency Department teams will continue working closely together to ensure patients receive the care they need. When appropriate, behavioral health patients may be transferred to trusted regional partner organizations to ensure timely access to specialized services,” Kutch wrote.

Kutch maintained Trinity Health remains committed to maintaining a strong presence in downtown Minot through its Medical Arts facility, and investments through the remodeling and expansion of the KeyCare Pharmacy.

Kutch said Trinity Health is exploring opportunities with local and regional partners regarding the future of the St. Joseph’s building to identify possibilities which align with the evolving community needs and a long-term vision for downtown Minot.

“We recognize that this transition may be difficult for those who have worked in, received care at or supported St. Joseph’s Hospital over the years. The building holds a special place in our community’s history. At the same time, our responsibility is to ensure that care is delivered in facilities that are safe, modern and capable of supporting the evolving needs of our patients, caregivers and region,” Kutch wrote.