To the Editor:

On Monday, I focused on health care in a pair of medical facility visits in Mankato. In the morning, I visited with patients and their families receiving innovative care at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. In the afternoon, I greeted patients receiving high-quality kidney care services at DaVita Dialysis Center.

Our nation has the highest-quality medical care in the world, and providers like the two I visited in Mankato exemplify it. We all benefit when we prioritize patient-centered care that strengthens the relationship between patients and their doctors and focuses on high-quality outcomes. Even when faced with serious health challenges, patients can thrive when they have access to affordable and conveniently located health care in Greater Minnesota.

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare has a long history of serving children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. These medical needs don’t need to define a person’s childhood or predict their future. Gillette Children’s brings advanced technologies and compassionate providers to serve southern Minnesota and focus on positive outcomes.

It was a great pleasure to speak with patients and the DaVita care team. A parent of one of my staff members has been on dialysis for years. Creating access to high-quality care for all patients is a priority for many of us, and the kidney care community is helping lead the way.

U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn,

R-Minn.