Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City and Mercy announced Wednesday (Aug. 15) the signing of a letter of intent for a health care partnership to serve Jefferson County and the surrounding region.
There is no set timetable for negotiations, but officials from both sides expect to complete the deal in four to six months, the two health care entities said in a joint statement.
In January, Jefferson Regional requested proposals to buy, merge or otherwise combine with the Crystal City hospital established in 1957 as Jefferson Memorial Hospital.
“In May, after reviewing many proposals and offers, Jefferson Regional selected Mercy as the organization we believed offered the best fit for us both culturally and clinically,” said Jeff Buck, Jefferson Regional’s interim chief executive officer. “Our discussions over the summer have only reinforced our confidence in that decision.”
The letter of intent’s terms include an investment from Mercy, which will be used by Jefferson Regional to establish a new community foundation to support health care and social needs in the community. In addition, terms include Mercy committing to significant capital improvements in upgraded and expanded facilities, hospital program enhancements, a commitment to work with the medical staff and Jefferson Regional representation on the Mercy East Missouri region board.
“We are so pleased to take this next step forward in our relationship with Jefferson Regional,” said Donn Sorensen, regional president for Mercy’s East Missouri region. “While there are customary issues to address during due diligence, what we know is that Mercy and Jefferson Regional share common beliefs in how we treat our co-workers, how we care for our patients and how we serve our communities. We believe these shared principles put us in an ideal place to move forward in anticipation of a strong future together.”
Mercy is the sixth-largest Catholic health care system in the country, serving more than three million people annually. Its system includes 31 hospitals, nearly 300 outpatient facilities, 38,000 employees and 1,700 integrated physicians in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
-- Kevin Carbery
