PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER MercyOne Traer Family Medicine located at 200 Walnut Street in downtown Traer pictured on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. The clinic’s last day in operation is set for Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

TRAER – Another MercyOne clinic will soon be no more.

“On December 10, we will transition care from MercyOne Traer Family Medicine to MercyOne Reinbeck Family Medicine. This provides patients in Reinbeck, Traer and surrounding communities with a fuller, stronger care team with more sustainable operations for the future,” Todd Mizener, public relations for MercyOne, told the newspaper in an email on Friday, Nov. 21. “MercyOne is currently reaching out to patients with upcoming appointments at the Traer location. Patients can receive treatment at MercyOne Traer Family Medicine through December 9, and we invite all patients to contact us to easily transfer patient care to Reinbeck or any other MercyOne care location.”

The Traer clinic is currently located downtown at 200 Walnut St. directly across Second Street from Hometown Foods. Reinbeck, located in Grundy County, is a roughly 20 minute drive from Traer. The closure follows similar, recent MercyOne clinic closures in Dysart earlier this year and Gladbrook back in September of 2023 – part of a rash of MercyOne closures and consolidations that have taken place across Iowa over the past few years. According to reporting by the Des Moines Register in December 2023, the decision by MercyOne at that time to close the Urbandale family medicine clinic was part of a “larger plan.”

“This decision aligns with a larger plan to address the economic realities of the fundamental shift in health care post-pandemic,” Mizener said as part of the Register’s reporting. “MercyOne is reducing costs and redistributing resources to ensure we continue to fulfill our Mission and focus on providing high-quality patient care.”

This past June, Catholic Health World – the official newspaper of the Catholic Health Association of the United States – reported on UnityPoint Health’s plan to acquire MercyOne’s 464-bed Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City. As part of that reporting, Catholic Health World indicated “MercyOne, which is a Trinity Health subsystem, has 21 medical centers and 23 additional affiliated health care facilities, most in Iowa.”

Per its website, Trinity Health bills itself as “one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation” operating across 25 states. Trinity Health’s website further states, “In fiscal year 2025, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $2.9 billion in its communities in the form of charity care, community benefit and other programs and services.”

In The Loop sounds the alarm

The newspaper was first made aware of the Traer clinic closure via a post made on Nov. 10, 2025, to the Facebook public group In the Loop – Traer, IA.

“Attention Traer Area Residents!” the post by Katelin Leigh Sauerbrei states. “With the MercyOne Clinic in Traer closing this December, we know many people are looking for a new primary care option. We’ve heard from many community members with questions and we want to help provide some clarity and options. We’re Aspire Health and Wellness Primary Care in Dysart, IA, and we’re accepting new patients!”

Aspire Health and Wellness officially opened this past July in Dysart. The family medical practice is owned and operated by Joe and Jamie Barnett of Cedar Falls with Jamie, an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), serving as the clinic’s primary provider after previously working for UnityPoint in Waterloo.

Discussion in the post’s comment section quickly took off with many local residents expressing dismay that the Traer clinic was closing.

“Perhaps everyone should reach out to Mercy One and voice their [opinions],” Julie Conrad commented. “Let them know how much this will affect local communities and elderly especially, that aren’t able to drive far. The more concern heard, the more they may change their mind. Same with Reinbeck and other small towns. Be a voice!!”

“I personally will be done with Mercy One,” Jason Bina of Traer commented. “We were fortunate to have a clinic but (the) writing has been on the walls and [the clinic] treat employees crapy [sic] and left them in the dark.”

In his communications with the newspaper, Mizener said current MercyOne Traer Family Medicine staff “will have opportunities to transition to similar positions in Reinbeck and throughout the MercyOne system.”

Judy Morrison of Traer also commented on the post, writing, “Very disappointed to hear Traer’s clinic is closing. I am supposed to do regular blood testing and it’s much more convenient and quicker to do it here in town. Also, multiple specialists that we see are affiliated with MercyOne.”

Also in the comments section of the Aspire Health and Wellness post, Traer resident Maureen Hanus shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a letter authored by MercyOne Director of Clinic Operations Kasey Szopinski sent on Nov. 10, 2025, via email to patients regarding the upcoming Traer clinic closure. The letter is printed in its entirety below.

“Dear Patient,

“Thank you for entrusting MercyOne with your care – it is our privilege to serve you. We are writing to provide an update regarding changes to your care team. MercyOne is realigning and redistributing resources to continue our Misson [sic] of providing high-quality patient care. As a result, we are consolidating services and transitioning our patient care team at MercyOne Traer Family Medicine to nearby MercyOne locations beginning Dec. 9.

“If you have a scheduled appointment with Madison Albert, ARNP, beyond Dec. 9, we’ll be reaching out to you with options so you can continue your care at MercyOne. Our patients remain the top priority, and we’ll work hard to provide a seamless transition of care.

“We understand how important your care is, and we encourage you to call us at 319-272-

DOCS (3627) for more information about our providers and locations or visit MercyOne.org.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and your loved ones. We are committed to providing personalized, excellent care and look forward to helping you achieve your health and wellness goals.”

The newspaper also reached out to Traer Mayor Pete Holden regarding the closure, including any plans he is aware of regarding the building itself which is owned by MercyOne, but had not yet heard back as of press time.

Closure part of broader issue

The closure of rural hospitals and clinics in the Midwest has been reported on extensively by Investigate the Midwest – an independent, nonprofit newsroom – which published a piece on Aug. 18, 2025, titled “Long drives, longer waits and fading trust mark the new reality of rural health care.” While the story focused specifically on the decline of rural hospitals in Missouri, the reporting had broader implications.

“For farming communities especially, preventive care is becoming harder and harder to access,” the article stated.

“I’ve been sitting with my extension council and they’ve told me they know people who would rather stay on their farm and die than drive to the city for health care,” Community Health Specialist Jennifer Eldridge of the University of Missouri extension program is quoted in the article.

Common Sense Institute of Iowa (CSI Iowa) – a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Iowa’s economy, per its website – published a report in August 2024 titled “Iowa’s Healthcare Landscape.” Key findings from the report include:

-Thanks primarily to rising operating costs, over a third of Iowa hospitals and 60% of rural hospitals operated at a loss in 2022.

-Over the last 15 years, 250 more healthcare facilities in Iowa have closed than have opened, with mental health centers leading all provider types in net closings.

-Rural Iowa has 17% fewer physicians per capita than its urban areas.

-In Iowa, 62 of the 77 rural counties (and 9 of the urban counties) do not have a practicing OBGYN.

A map included as part of the CSI Iowa report indicated that, as of its publication, nine counties in Iowa, including Tama County, were without a hospital. Tama County – Iowa’s ninth largest county by geographic area – also lacks an urgent care center.

The Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHA/CHIP) published in 2023 by Tama County Public Health & Home Care (TCPH&HC) stated, “Tama County is ranked amongst the least healthy counties in Iowa at 85 of 99.” The report also stated, “The average life expectancy in Tama County is 76.5 years, Iowa average is 79.4 years.”

In terms of available care in Tama County, TCPH&HC indicated there was one (1) primary care physician per 4,210 people in Tama County, while the State ratio was one (1) provider for every 1,350 people.

With the closure of the MercyOne Traer Family Medicine clinic effective Dec. 10, 2025, such figures will clearly change – more than likely not for the better – when the public health department issues its next five-year plan in 2028.

‘The ripple effects can be far-reaching’

As part of this reporting, the newspaper reached out to TCPH&HC for comment regarding the Traer clinic closure. CEO and Executive Director Stacy Koeppen provided the following statement on Monday, Nov. 24.

“The closure of the Traer clinic will have a meaningful impact on healthcare access in Tama County, particularly for residents in the northern and more rural parts of the county. We already face limited access to primary care, maternal health, specialty providers, and behavioral health services, as highlighted in the 2023 Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan. The loss of a clinic means many residents will now need to travel farther for routine care, preventative services, and follow-up appointments. For some community members – especially older adults, individuals with chronic conditions, those with limited transportation, and working families – this can create significant barriers to maintaining their health.

“Any time a healthcare resource closes in a rural community, the ripple effects can be far-reaching. Reduced access can lead to delayed care, increased use of emergency services for non-emergent health needs, and greater strain on the remaining providers in the region. It also has broader implications for population health, including missed opportunities for early detection, health education, and prevention.

“Tama County Public Health & Home Care remains committed to supporting residents in navigating care and connecting them with available resources. We will continue to collaborate with healthcare partners, local leaders, and community organizations to monitor needs, advocate for improved access, and explore new solutions that support rural healthcare delivery.”

Mizener, MercyOne’s public relations rep, also told the newspaper in regard to the Traer closure, “MercyOne is constantly evaluating our system of care in order to meet the needs of our patients, families and colleagues with the highest standards possible. As demographics, health care policies, and patient demands change, MercyOne must continue to adapt to best serve our communities.”

Mizener declined to answer the newspaper’s question regarding the number of patients per day currently utilizing the Traer clinic. In response to a follow-up question asking if the clinic closure will also affect MercyOne’s physical therapy office in Traer – separate from the medical clinic and located at 549 Second Street – Mizener replied, “The two facilities are separate.”