The signs are up, the transition is complete - mostly.
The former Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City officially became Mercy Hospital Jefferson today (April 1). No fooling.
"The name is official, the signs are up," hospital spokesman John Winkelman said Monday. "All of the entrance signs have a Mercy banner. All of the doors have new Mercy window clings. Still some internal hallway signs still have to be switched out."
The name change was announced late in 2012 as the former Jefferson Regional board negotiated a merger with Mercy. The deal closed at the end of January with the understanding that the name change would become effective April 1.
Still, Winkelman said, there is work to be done.
"We have changed all the forms we can - the printers have been working furiously," he said. "People may still see some forms that have the Jefferson Regional Medical Center name, but that's just a matter of saving paper and being as wise of a steward of resources as we can."
The hospital is holding community round tables with business leaders tonight in Hillsboro and on Thursday in Farmington. A meeting scheduled for March 25 in Festus was snowed out and will be rescheduled.
Winkelman said the invitation-only meetings are designed to get input on the type of health care services the community is expecting from Mercy.
-- Patrick Martin
