General Questions
What’s changing?
Northfield Hospital + Clinics (NH+C) is purchasing the Allina Health Northfield Clinic at 1400 Jefferson Road, and will transition the clinic to NH+C in September.
What will the clinic be called?
The new clinic will be called NH+C Jefferson Road Clinic.
When will the new Jefferson Road Clinic open?
NH+C and Allina Health are on track to complete the transition of the clinic in September.
Are providers staying in the existing Allina Health building?
Yes, the patients who currently receive care in family medicine, behavioral health, sports medicine and pediatrics at the Allina Health Clinic on Jefferson Road can expect to have the same great care team, the same great providers in the same building. We're committed to making this a positive transition for patients, with excellent continuity of care.
How will this transition affect patients?
The patients who are currently receiving care in family medicine, behavioral health, sports medicine and pediatrics at the Allina Health Clinic on Jefferson Road can expect to have the same great care team, the same great providers in the same building. The name of the clinic will switch to Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ Jefferson Road Clinic.
Current patients will notice a change in electronic medical records and online patient portal as the Jefferson Road Clinic shifts from Allina Health’s Epic EMR to NH+C’s Meditech Expanse.
There are no changes for current NH+C clinic patients.
What are the hours for the new clinic?
The hours will stay the same M-F 7 am to 5 pm.
Providers
Where can I see my provider?
If you have an appointment with Allina Health scheduled before September, please plan to keep it as scheduled. Your appointment is not affected and will remain in place.
Scheduling for appointments at NH+C Jefferson Road Clinic will open in August for appointments starting in late September.
Is my provider switching to NH+C?
If you are an Allina Health patient, you will get a letter from your Allina Health provider about their own plan, and your options. Allina Health providers in family medicine, pediatrics, mental health and addiction care, and sports medicine will become part of NH+C. See a list of Allina providers who will become part of NH+C providers and continue to provide care in the Jefferson Road Clinic location. See NH+C’s full team of providers and specialties.
Will I still be able to see my Allina Health specialist at the Jefferson Road Clinic?
Plans for specialty care are still taking shape. NH+C is actively working with Allina Health to identify how best to continue providing great specialty care to our community. Our shared desire is to maintain and enhance access. We expect to have more to share before the clinic transition in the Fall.
What happens if my provider isn’t staying?
You will need to make a choice about where to receive care based on your health care needs. We have many great NH+C providers who would welcome you. See NH+C’s full team of providers and specialties.
What if I need to see my provider during the weeks when the clinic is closed?
There will be some transition time between Allina Health closing the clinic and moving out and its reopening as NH+C’s Jefferson Road Clinic. There will be more information to come.
During that time, we will have additional providers at the NH+C’s Northfield Clinic on the hospital campus. These additional providers will have open schedules for people to be seen.
Prescriptions
What happens to my existing prescriptions?
- If you have existing prescriptions with refills, your pharmacy will continue to fill them.
- If it is before September, and you’ve checked with your pharmacy and you don’t have any refills, you may request your prescription refill through your Allina Health provider.
- If it is September, any new medication or changes in your current medication will be made by your provider when they transition to NH+C. You may have to come in for an appointment to renew your medication.
Appointments
What happens to my future appointments with Allina Health?
If you choose to stay with your provider as they become an NH+C provider, we will assist you in transferring appointments or you can call and schedule appointments starting in August.
When can I start making appointments?
You will be able to make appointments starting in August for appointments beginning in late September. More information will be coming soon.
Where will I go for my appointment?
If you are currently seeing your provider at the Allina Health Clinic at 1400 Jefferson Road, you will continue to see your provider at the same location. The name will change to NH+C’s Jefferson Road Clinic; the clinic itself, its providers and staff, will remain the same.
Electronic Medical Records and Patient Portal
How will the shift in Electronic Medical Records affect me as a patient, and my provider?
NH+C will help patients, providers and staff transition from Allina Health’s Epic system to NH+C’s Meditech Expanse system. We're working hard to make this a positive experience: We know it's a change for all these individuals, so we're investing time and energy in training and preparation.
Patients will always be able to see their existing records in Epic; these files will remain, but will not be updated with new information after the clinic transition. Patients can continue to use tools like MyChart until the transition.
As providers join NH+C from Allina Health, they'll also maintain access to Allina Health's Epic system and continue to see those records as “read-only” files. Providers won’t have the option to add or make changes to these files.
With two parallel electronic medical records, the back and forth will get a bit more complicated. NH+C is committed to making it as seamless as possible. We've been working closely with the Allina Health providers and staff to make sure that this is a positive experience for them as well.
Will I lose access to MyChart and to my Allina Health records?
No. You will be able to continue to access your Allina Health records. Any new appointments and records after the transition to NH+C will be found in NH+C’s patient portal MyHealth Info. It is very similar to Allina Health’s MyChart system.
Health insurance
Will my insurance be covered?
We’ve looked at the insurance products that many people hold in the Northfield area. The vast majority of them are equal from Allina Health to NH+C. There are a few that we're reviewing in more detail to make sure that those patients who have a specific insurance product can continue to get great access with NH+C, and we'll continue to improve that as we go into the next year.
It's always a good idea for individuals to call their insurance company and clarify their own coverage directly with their insurance carrier.
More information
Zander Abbott, CEO answers questions about NH+C’s purchase of Allina Health’s Northfield Clinic.