MU Health Care plans to take over St. Mary’s Hospital
University of Missouri Health Care plans on taking over St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, according to multiple sources close to the deal.
The deal involves MU Health Care signing a nonbinding letter of intent to take over the Jefferson City-based hospital. Sources said MU Health Care was the only company that responded to a request for proposal issued by SSM Health, the company that currently runs St. Mary’s Hospital.
The deal gives MU Health Care a major presence at Jefferson City’s two hospitals. The company is also affiliated with Capital Region Medical Center. Crews finished building the new 373,000-square foot St. Mary’s facility in 2014.
An MU Health Care spokesperson would not confirm the existence of the St. Mary’s Hospital deal.
“As the health care industry evolves, we are consistently evaluating all potential opportunities to ensure we can continue to further our mission and continue to provide quality care and support to our patients, employees, physicians and communities across Missouri,” public relations manager Jesslyn Chew told ABC 17 News in a statement. “Regarding any specific conversations we are having with other organizations, it would be premature until we had something definitive to share.”
MU Health Care has said it is looking for more space to operate. It and Boone Hospital Center trustees paused negotiations in January on MU Health Care taking over that hospital’s lease. A statement said the two “were unable to fully align at this time on the mission and strategic direction necessary for the proposed partnership.”
