M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital: Medical Specialties & Transit Guide

 The history of M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital—originally known simply as Fairview Ridges Hospital—began in the early 1980s. Local health organizers recognized a desperate need for a dedicated medical campus in the rapidly growing south metro region of the Twin Cities.

Following formal regulatory approval in 1981, construction commenced under a pioneering local leadership team. The community-centered acute care facility officially opened its doors in Burnsville, Minnesota in 1984, establishing a 150-bed anchor for medical excellence in the Minnesota River Valley.

Over the decades, the campus underwent historic multi-floor expansions to keep pace with Dakota County’s booming population. Through these major additions, it successfully grew from a small community hospital into a premier, highly decorated regional medical hub.

Today, the hospital consistently secures elite clinical marks, including earning national recognition as one of Minnesota's top-performing hospitals and repeatedly capturing prestigious patient safety excellence awards that place it in the top 5% of facilities nationwide.

The hospital operates as an advanced community-centered care facility, offering comprehensive, top-tier medical care across several clinical strengths.

Primary Medical Specialities

• Pediatric and Neonatal Care: Operating as an elite pediatric hospital hub for the south metro area, it features a specialized 16-bed pediatric inpatient floor and a 23-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), allowing families to access advanced infant and children's treatments without traveling into the core Twin Cities.
• Orthopedic and Spine Care: Housing an expansive, dedicated orthopedic-spine surgery unit equipped to perform advanced spinal fusions, joint replacements, and comprehensive skeletal rehabilitation.
• Oncology and Cancer Treatment: Home to a fully accredited cancer care program and a specialized breast cancer center utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and targeted surgical oncology.
• Maternity and Women's Health: A fully equipped, high-performing "Birthplace" unit designed to support expecting mothers through routine and high-risk pregnancies, labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
• Cardiovascular Medicine: Featuring an integrated heart center providing comprehensive outpatient consultation alongside urgent cardiac testing and intervention.

Booking a Ride to the Hospital in Dakota County

If this is emergency 📞 911

If you live in Dakota County, a major barrier to receiving healthcare is often simply figuring out how to get to your appointment. Fortunately, there are reliable options available to book a ride directly to and from M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital:

MVTA Connect On-Demand Ride-Share

Provided by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, this public ride-share service offers point-to-point, curb-to-curb transportation right to the hospital doors. It primarily blankets Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage, and Rosemount. The service operates 7 days a week from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM for a standard one-way fare of $3.00 (free for veterans with a valid ID). Rides can be booked up to 3 hours in advance using the RideMVTA smartphone app or by calling MVTA Customer Service at 952-882-7500. Every completed ride includes a same-day transfer ticket for fixed bus routes like Route 442 or the Orange LINK.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

For residents enrolled in fee-for-service Medicaid, the county coordinates rides through its regional partner, MTM (Medical Transportation Management). You can schedule a ride by calling MTM at 866-467-1724. It is requested that you book at least three business days in advance for routine visits, though after-hours services are available specifically for hospital discharges and urgent appointments.

GoDakota Transportation Programs

Dakota County hosts the GoDakota program to help residents identify local public, private, and volunteer-led transit options. Local organizations like DARTS provide community-based rides for seniors and individuals with disabilities. You can call 651-455-1560 to coordinate specific door-to-door transit options tailored to your medical schedule.

Hospital Discharge Assistance

If you are currently admitted to the hospital and do not have a ride home upon discharge, you can notify your nurse or request a consultation with the hospital's discharge planning team. The staff social workers maintain active agreements with localized medical transit providers and can book a return ride on your behalf to guarantee a safe trip home.