Silver Bay clinic closure draws concerns over rural health care access
Aspirus Lake View’s Silver Bay Clinic will close Dec. 31. The health care provider announced that future clinic visits, laboratory services and radiology will relocate to the Lake View Two Harbors Clinic. The Minnesota Department of Health held a hearing July 28 to provide a forum for community members to discuss the change in services.
The hearing was held at Aspirus Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors. It could not be held at the Silver Bay Clinic as the statute requires a hospital to host the hearing. While state law required the hearing to take place, it does not give MDH authority to delay or prevent the proposed changes, closures or relocations.
During the hearing, Aspirus Lake View presented a slide listing several reasons for the closure, including clinician shortages affecting rural health care and rapidly changing health care delivery across the state and nation.
In a social media post, state Sen. Grant Hauschild highlighted the hearing as a result of legislation he helped pass but said it would not be enough to address the challenges facing rural health care.
“The truth is, if we want rural healthcare to survive, we need our federal delegation to repeal the ‘one, big beautiful bill’ that has gutted rural health care funding,” Hauschild’s post read. “Without a change at the federal level, nothing can stop the eventual decline of rural health in our communities.”
North Shore Health board member Sam Usem attended the hearing in a private capacity.
“As we’ve been hearing for the last couple of years now that there are going to be more difficulties facing rural healthcare clinics and hospitals,” Usem told WTIP. “I thought this was a great example to see what are the true implications of that for our wider North Shore community.”
Usem said the drive to Two Harbors offered a striking realization of how Silver Bay residents would be affected. Residents of the city would have to travel about 30 additional miles for care, while those already traveling from communities such as Finland or Isabella would face even longer drives.
“Health care delivery is changing rapidly, and within today’s dynamic and challenging environment, and we recognize that changes like these can be difficult for the communities we serve,” Aspirus Lake View said in a statement. “Health systems must be foresightful and responsible stewards of their resources. At Aspirus, we are committed to making decisions that ensure long-term sustainability while continuing to provide excellent, compassionate care for the communities we serve.”
Usem said residents affected by the closure asked how consolidating services in Two Harbors would benefit them.
“What really stood out to me as well was that a decade ago, when rural hospitals were closing, you would hear things like, ‘Oh, you’re going to get more access to care by coming to the big city. You’re going to be able to get more appointments and labs available and see more providers,'” Usem said. “None of that charade was even talked about at all.”
WTIP reached out to North Shore Health regarding the closure. CEO Kimber Wraalstad and board Chair Randy Wiitala said in a joint statement that no one attended the hearing on behalf of North Shore Health and that the organization did not provide comments at the hearing.
“While we recognize there is some interest in the proposed closure of the Aspirus Silver Bay clinic, North Shore Health is not involved in or knowledgeable about the factors that led to the decision, therefore we cannot speculate or offer opinions on those decisions.”
WTIP also reached out to Ruberg regarding the closure and was informed he was not doing interviews on the topic.
WTIP’s conversation with Usem about the hearing and the state of rural health care can be found below.
Josh Hinke August 5, 2026
