More than 200 nurses, physicians and elected officials marched in downtown St. Paul from Mears Park to Rice Park on Thursday, calling attention to deep cuts at the nearby Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital as well as the possible closure of St. Joseph’s Hospital in coming years.

“It’s going to have a huge ripple effect all across the state,” said Mary Turner, presidents of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “Mankato sends patients to Bethesda. If Bethesda shrinks or goes away, where are these patients going to go?”

The likelihood of impacts far beyond downtown has drawn growing attention. Elected officials from as far south as Rosemount have expressed concern that the northern Dakota County suburbs lack hospitals and rely on services at Bethesda, St. Joe’s and other medical facilities in downtown St. Paul. Founded in 1853, St. Joe’s specialty services range from cardiac care to addiction treatment and a mental health crisis unit.

Probably a couple hundred people here tonight for Minnesota Nurses Association March from Mears to Rice. pic.twitter.com/TsQ1NExCUV — Frederick Melo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) December 19, 2019

The march was attended by St. Paul City Council President Amy Brendmoen, Council Member Rebecca Noecker, Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter, Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, St. Paul Board of Education Member John Brodrick, state Rep. John Lesch and former state Rep. Erin Murphy.

M Health Fairview, which bought HealthEast in 2017, has said declining Medicare reimbursements and other financial pressures are forcing changes throughout its network of hospitals and clinics, including the elimination of half the patient beds at Bethesda by early 2020. Roughly 340 workers throughout the health network will be laid off or shifted into different positions.

In a written statement on Thursday, M Health Fairview officials said they plan a community engagement campaign that includes employee forums, input sessions with clinical specialists, direct conversations with community groups, “and hopefully partnering with the public and private sectors to develop broad based solutions for mental health.” Public comments are being accepted at fairview.org/community-comments.