The idea came after providers at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center noticed a pattern where many unhoused patients would get treatment, get discharged and then end up in the emergency department.

Source: https://www.minnpost.com/race-health-equity/2023/04/medical-respite-program-assisting-unhoused-populations-following-hospital-stays/

The U sold its teaching hospital to Fairview in 1997 and balked at the idea of an out-of-state entity owning the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Source: https://m.startribune.com/fairview-backs-out-of-ends-merger-with-sanford-health-minneapolis-university-minnesota-south-dakota/600292916/

With about 78,000 employees, the combined system under the current proposal would be based in South Dakota and operate more than 50 hospitals, including the University of Minnesota Medical Center.

Source: https://m.startribune.com/minnesota-attorney-general-to-hold-first-public-meeting-tuesday-on-sanford-fairview-merger/600242221/