Cornerstone Clinic Offers Personalized Care With Local Roots

Residents of Fairmont, Minnesota, can receive quality healthcare through Cornerstone Clinic, which opened in March 2024. Co-owners Nathan Reyelts and Samantha Farnum opened its doors at 410 Downtown Plaza after the Dulcimer Medical Center closed. The clinic has four healthcare providers and offers a variety of acute, chronic, and preventative treatments. Fairmont residents can get bloodwork and imaging done locally instead of having to travel for these and other diagnostic tests.

“It's been going well,” says Reyelts, a Physician Assistant at Cornerstone Clinic. “Our four providers are busy in the office every day, and we continue to see new patients every week. To accommodate urgent or acute concerns, we reserve a few hours each day for same-day appointments for those who call in. We recognize this need in the community and are committed to helping."

Reyelts has been offering healthcare services to Fairmont residents since 2004. This family practice clinic allows his team to offer comprehensive care in a central location. Keep reading to discover why Cornerstone Clinic is such an asset to Martin County.  

The Practitioners Allocate Ample Time to Each Patient

One of the benefits of visiting a local rural practice like Cornerstone Clinic is that the practitioners dedicate enough time to learn about you. Each healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms while also looking deeper into your lifestyle and habits. Their goal is to get to the root cause of any potential concerns, a practice known as functional medicine.

“We have relationships with our patients,” says Samantha Farnum, Nurse Practitioner at Cornerstone Clinic. “It’s not a conveyor belt of healthcare; we try to really understand what’s going on.”

Farnum and her team might ask about hobbies, work stress, relationships, and other aspects of your life. They will consider your exercise habits and diet. This takes a big-picture approach to your health and considers how multiple factors can affect certain situations.

Reyelts says he also benefits from treating multiple family members because it provides insight into potential risk factors from one generation to the next. For example, if he knows that someone's dad has heart disease, he can consider this family history when meeting with a patient.

Spending more time with patients creates a clearer picture of what is happening and how they can move forward. 

Fairmont Residents Don't Have to Travel for Care 

Cornerstone Clinic does its best to offer comprehensive services to patients. The healthcare providers have also established strong relationships with other hospitals and clinics in the area. If a patient needs a specific test or service, they can get what they need in Fairmont. This prevents them from having to travel out of Martin County for healthcare.

“Our patients don't have to drive 50 miles because Fairmont has adequate healthcare locally,” says Reyelts.

Access to healthcare has a significant economic impact on a community. When patients don't have to travel for their appointments, they don't have to miss work. It's easier to meet with a healthcare professional before they start their day or during their lunch breaks.

Healthcare access can also help people catch problems early on. Stopping in a clinic is easier than spending multiple hours driving to the nearest city. This allows the practitioners at the Cornerstone Clinic to focus on preventative care rather than treating problems that have become severe.

Reyelts and Farnum also strive to create positive healthcare experiences for patients so they feel comfortable returning when they need treatment.

“We are so thankful for our staff,” says Reyelts. “We get compliments daily about them.” 

Cornerstone Clinic is Deeply Involved in the Community

Reyelts and his team are particularly proud of the relationships they have built with the local business community. They are currently the only clinic in town offering drug and alcohol screening tests, a valuable service for local employers.

“Over the past 18 months, we’ve made it a priority to keep healthcare local,” says Reyelts. “By working directly with area businesses, we’re helping to make workplace health and safety more accessible and convenient.”

Additionally, Cornerstone Clinic supports first responders by providing physicals for the Fairmont Fire Department to ensure the team is fit for duty. It also performs employment and fit-for-duty physicals for the City of Fairmont Police Department and other city departments. These same services are also available for local student athletes.

“All of these efforts are part of a larger goal: to make high-quality healthcare more accessible, more local, and more community-focused,” says Reyelts. “We’re proud of the connections we’ve built so far, and we’re just getting started.” 

Cornerstone Clinic Received Support from FEDA 

The healthcare providers at Cornerstone Clinic worked with the Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) to secure a small business loan. This funding allowed them to make repairs and improvements to their new building before they moved in and helped cover the cost of furniture and equipment. FEDA was also able to offer a favorable interest rate that made the financing viable.

“We’re thankful for FEDA for their help securing the small business loan,” says Reyelts. “Without them, this might not have happened.”

Along with its four healthcare providers, Cornerstone Clinic has a staff of 14. This organization is a job creator while directly supporting the quality of life of residents by providing healthcare services.

“The Cornerstone Clinic is an example of a rural service provider that goes above and beyond to bring healthcare to patients,” says Ned Koppen, Economic Development Coordinator for FEDA. “Not only can Fairmont residents get the services they need, but they can also develop strong relationships with their healthcare providers. This leads to better long-term results.”

Cornerstone Clinic is still accepting new patients. It accepts most major insurance providers and also takes on patients who need to pay with cash. 

Learn More About Business Resources by FEDA

In the same way the healthcare professionals at Cornerstone Clinic work closely with their patients, FEDA develops lasting relationships with local business owners. The organization shares resources to help companies looking to expand or improve their operations. Not only does this help existing Fairmont businesses, but it also makes it easier for new companies to expand into the area.

If you haven't met with the team at FEDA, contact us today. Let us help you reach your Fairmont business goals.