Proctor Journal

Proctor was without a clinic and a physician for 19 years before a small group of

residents decided the city needed another doctor in 1980. It took another six years

before a staffed clinic reopened.

Now 22 years later Proctor area residents are concerned about increasing rumors that

its clinic will soon move and be transformed into a yet undisclosed medical facility of

some sort.

The buzz is the Proctor and Piedmont Heights, two of three clinics owned by First Plan

of Minnesota, will merge and relocate to a new facility along the Duluth Lake Walk.

Mayor Stephen Anderson said he met with clinic officials but referred all questions to

them. "They are preparing a news release that will soon be available," he said.

PEDA Chair Eric Madson said, "I was not directly involved in any conversations with

SuperiorHealth."

Members of the SuperiorHealth Advisory Group were also mum. Those that would talk

about the suspected move would only say that "there will be a big change" and that

they "voiced their opinion."

Julie Hazelton, Director of the Clinic did not return a phone call made Monday for this

story.

The family practice clinic, located at the corner of Hwy. 2 and Boundary Ave., serves a

diverse population.

In 2001, when the clinic opened, it included four family practice physicians and one

certified nurse practitioner. The 10,000 square foot $2.3 million facility featured

enlarged laboratories with expanded facilities for on site testing, and an X-ray and

ultrasound suite with private waiting areas.