Mayo Clinic Health System confirmed Friday that it will outsource medical transcription duties to a Wisconsin firm and lay off as many as 82 employees from seven Minnesota clinics by March 31.
The workers are in Mayo clinics in southeastern Minnesota and they transcribe doctors' notes.
Affected clinics aree those in Albert Lea, Austin, Cannon Falls, Lake City, Faribault, Owatonna and Red Wing. None of the affected workers are in Mayo's facilities in Rochester, officials said.
In a phone interview Friday, Mayo Clinic spokeswoman Kristy Jacobson said Mayo recently decided to outsource the services, which is a trend throughout the industry. As of March 31, Madison-based Amphion Medical Solutions will take over transcribing for Mayo doctors serving its seven southeastern clinics. Amphion already does work for Mayo and this new arrangement broadens the relationship.
Jacobson said Amphion will interview some of Mayo's displaced workers for possible jobs.
At the same time, Mayo's human resource managers will look for other possible opportunities within Mayo for workers who don't wish to leave. Company officials issued a statement noting that "new technologies are constantly being developed that will ultimately reduce the demand for transcription services."
The statement went on to say: "Staff are our greatest asset and decisions that may affect staff are not taken lightly. Mayo Clinic Health System leadership is committed to helping impacted employees."
Dee DePass • 612-673-7725
