In the blink of an eye, the Fairview-Sanford merger talks started and ended.  In case you missed it, here is a fast-forward screenplay of how the Fairview-Sanford merger talks played out.

(Dark stage)

Fairview and Sanford CEOs:   (Unintelligible whispers)

(Stage lights come on)

Minnesota Attorney General :  Hey guys, I heard you’re talking about a merger that impacts lots of Minnesotans.  What’s in it for them?

Sanford CEO:   It’s our destiny to be big and go east.

Fairview CEO:  Mumble, mumble, the talks are only in the early stages.

Minnesota Attorney General:  But what’s in it for Minnesotans?  They paid for that University Medical Center.

Sanford: We’re not feeling welcome.  I declare these merger negotiations  over.

(Curtain falls abruptly)

Okay, so it was a little more extensive than that, but not much.  Take a look at how Sanford Health’s CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft was selling the merger: Continue reading →