A look back... Kasson Mayo opens January 10, 1977

The new Kasson Mayo Health Facility started operation in Kasson January 10, 1977 with a staff of five.

The 7,300 square foot building contained facilities to provide both acute and preventive medical care. The facility also served as a training center for Mayo's family medicine education programs. Dr. John Collins was the first physician at the new Kasson Mayo building and he retired seven years ago.

The clinic was financed by a $375,000 bond issue passed by the citizens of Kasson. The building was leased to the Mayo Clinic, which provided the staff and equipment. The community overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bond issue by a 686 to eight margin, more than a 98% approval.

The staff was headed by Dr. John B. Collins, a consultant in Mayo's Division of Family Medicine. Paramedical staff included receptionist Ramona Smith, laboratory technician Vicki Tiedemann, nurse JoAnne Palmer and x-ray technician Joyce Beaver.

The facility was designed to accommodate up to four full-time physicians and serve as the home base for up to 12 residents from the family medicine program of the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, as well as for students studying family medicine at the Mayo Medical School.

In 1977 the facility had 2,111 patients who accounted for 6,883 office visits. The number increased to 2,571 patients and 9,195 visits in 1979. By 1981 Kasson Mayo had 14,900 office visits.
At the time, the new facility was the latest addition to Mayo's "outreach" programs, which also include satellite clinics in Zumbrota and Plainview.

What triggered the Kasson project was a bill signed by then Governor Rudy Perpich granting the Mayo Clinic $48,000 to begin a graduate residency program. The Kasson Clinic was considered home base for the residency program.

Seven men on the Kasson Medical Services Committee worked for almost two years to convince Mayo Kasson had a need for a medical facility. Longtime Kasson physician Dr. D.E. Affeldt supported the project and the two other physicians in the county signed a letter in support of the project. Committee members were Dr. L.B. Severance, Folmer Carlsen, Bim Juhnke, Garry Purvis, Leonard Prescher, Kenneth Kellar and Al Hodge. All seven had ties as members of the Kasson Masonic Lodge.

Since construction of the Kasson Health Facility growth has been continual and in fact exceeded growth expectations. A 1981 DCI article stated that expansion would take place as needed to meet patient needs.