Northfield Hospital + Clinics, Allina Health Sign Letter of Intent as Part of Innovative Approach to Rural Healthcare Partnership
Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health, two long-time healthcare partners, have signed a letter of intent to work together to build an efficient healthcare model that ensures comprehensive, community-based care. As part of this strategic partnership, Allina Health would transition the Allina Health Northfield Clinic to Northfield Hospital + Clinics ownership to strengthen care coordination and integration between the two independent organizations.
As trusted local healthcare providers, Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health share a deep commitment to the community. Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ expansion of primary and specialty care services furthers its commitment to serving the community with high-quality services for the entire lifespan. As a regional leader and trusted provider of specialty care, Allina Health will continue to focus on delivering its expertise in specialty care to the Northfield community.
“With both Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health strongly embedded in the community, we are uniquely positioned to take our relationship to the next level to benefit our local patients and employees,” says Northfield Hospital + Clinics Chief Executive Officer Zander Abbott. “This is exciting news for the communities we serve and for current employees of Northfield Hospital + Clinics. We look forward to inviting the providers and staff at the Allina Health Northfield Clinics to join our organization.
“This is an innovative way to expand on neighbors caring for neighbors while assuring hometown primary care stays in the hometowns we serve. Patients will have access to expanded exceptional primary care through Northfield Hospital + Clinics and continue to receive specialty care in a seamless manner from our colleagues at Allina Health,” Abbott says.
“This innovative agreement builds on Allina Health’s commitment to providing care close to home and its reputation for excellence in specialty care, while supporting NH+C’s expansion of primary care. Allina Health’s reputation for excellence in specialty care while supporting Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ focus on community-based care,” said Bill Evans, Chief Medical Group Operations Officer for Allina Health. “We look forward to growing and expanding our specialty care services with Northfield Hospital + Clinics, ensuring patients continue to have access to expert, advanced specialty services,” Evans added.
Throughout the transition, Allina Health Northfield Clinic patients can expect uninterrupted care and continued access to their current providers. This includes, but is not limited to family medicine, pediatrics, mental health, and sports medicine. Allina Health and NH + C will work closely together on future arrangements designed to support continuity of care.
This expansion of primary and specialty care services does not impact Northfield Hospital.
“We are firmly committed to being an independent healthcare system so we can be responsive to the community,” Abbott says. “As a community hospital, we can balance primary services and specialty care. And when patients need a higher level of care, such as cardiac procedures, our partnerships with tertiary care centers enable us to transition care as needed, then have the patient return to the community for continued care.”
“Allina Health has been a trusted source of high-quality care in the Northfield community for years. This affiliation leverages the strengths of both systems by combining Allina Health’s regional expertise with Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ local presence,” said Evans. “We are excited to work together to create an efficient model of care that keeps services local and positions rural healthcare for the future,” Evans added.
Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health are on track to finalize a binding agreement in early 2026, with plans to complete the transition of the clinic in summer 2026.
About Northfield Hospital + Clinics
Northfield Hospital + Clinics is an independent, city-owned health care system that services the Twin Cities south metro and several southern Minnesota communities. Personalized, patient-centered care has been a hallmark of Northfield Hospital + Clinics since the beginning.
Northfield Hospital has been caring for the community since 1910. NH+C has a 37-bed hospital, six clinics, ten specialty care centers, two rehabilitation centers and two urgent care locations. There are over 850 employees.
- 48 SPECIALTIES including orthopedics, oncology, cardiology
- 22 LOCATIONS throughout the south metro and southern Minnesota
- 115 PROVIDERS for primary and specialty care
Northfield Hospital is a regional medical destination that provides state-of-the-art care in a tranquil environment that’s easy to reach, easy to navigate, and always welcoming.
Clinics include primary and specialty care clinics in Northfield, Farmington, Lakeville, Faribault and Kenyon. Specialty clinics include the Women’s Health Center, Cancer Care & Infusion Center, Breast Care Center, Sleep Center, Orthopedics, Wound Healing Center, and Rehabilitation Services in Northfield and Lakeville.
About Allina Health
Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, dedicated to preventing and treating illness and improving the health of individuals, families, and communities. Through a network of more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers, home care, and emergency medical transportation, Allina Health provides high-quality care from birth through end-of-life.
At the forefront of Allina Health’s mission are its Institutes, which offer nationally recognized experts and advanced care in key specialties:
- Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute – A leader in cardiovascular innovation, research, and care delivery through clinical trials, publications, and training 4,000+ providers annually, it is consistently rated ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News & World Report.
- Allina Health Cancer Institute – Providing comprehensive, personalized and innovative oncology care across the full cancer journey, delivered at ten locations – including its three largest hospitals which U.S. News & World Report consistently rates “High Performing” in multiple oncology specialties.
- Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute – Offering advanced neurological and spine care, including two nationally accredited stroke centers, innovative focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson's and a chronic pain rehabilitation program – one of only two in Minnesota.
Together, these Institutes exemplify Allina Health’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.
FAQ: NH+C and Allina partnership for healthcare serving the Northfield community
How will this affect patients?
This does not affect clinic care for current NH+C patients.
During the transition, Allina Health Northfield clinic patients can expect uninterrupted care, keeping their current provider if their provider chooses to join Northfield Hospital + Clinics.
This expansion of clinical care services does not impact Northfield Hospital.
How will this impact healthcare in our community?
This is exciting news for the communities we serve, for current employees of Northfield Hospital + Clinics, and employees of Allina Health Northfield Clinic, who are invited to join our organization.
The acquisition of Allina’s clinic will enhance and strengthen primary patient care and access across the region, while furthering Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ commitment to serve our full community with high-quality services for the entire lifespan.
This acquisition helps NH+C maintain and grow our breadth of services in Northfield as a strong, independent hospital and clinics system. Our goal: Strengthening Community Care across the Community.
When will the transaction be finalized, and when will Allina’s Northfield Clinic be fully integrated into Northfield Hospital + Clinics?
Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health are on track to finalize a binding agreement in early 2026, with plans to complete the transition of the clinic in summer 2026.
Why is this happening now?
This opportunity has been in the works for some time as both organizations look to best fulfill the mission of providing outstanding care to patients in our region. Strategic vision and timing have aligned.
This affiliation leverages both organizations’ strengths as we commit to serving the best interest of patients and the community with access to high-quality care at all levels.
As Northfield’s trusted local healthcare provider, NH+C will expand primary care and keep community-level services local. As a regional leader and trusted provider of specialty care, Allina Health will focus on its strengths in specialty care to serve the community.
Why partner with Allina?
Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health have a long history of working together to serve the healthcare needs of the broader Northfield community.
As a community hospital, we can balance primary services and specialty care. And when patients need a higher level of care, such as cardiac procedures, our partnerships with tertiary care centers such as Allina’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital enable us to transition care as needed, then have the patient return to the community for continued care.
Will Northfield Hospital + Clinics remain independent, or is this the start of a larger merger?
We will remain independent. We are firmly committed to being an independent healthcare system so we can be responsive to the community. Northfield Hospital + Clinics and Allina Health will be formalizing our long-standing partnerships in clinical service lines care such as cardiology and neuroscience. We plan to establish an affiliation agreement that will allow NH+C to strengthen and grow clinical services while remaining independent.
How can Northfield Hospital + Clinics afford to make this purchase during difficult times in the healthcare industry?
We are in a position to thrive financially. We have weathered challenges and are well-positioned for the future.
This acquisition helps NH+C maintain and grow our breadth of services in Northfield as a strong, independent hospital and clinics system. Our goal: Strengthening Community Care across the Community. This move allows for the expansion of “neighbors caring for neighbors” while assuring that “hometown care” stays in the hometowns we serve.