MU Health CEO says talks with SSM Health “progressing nicely”
MU Health CEO Jonathan Curtright said talks with SSM Health are “progressing nicely”
Curtright gave an update on the discussions during the Board of Curators’ Health Affairs meeting at Women’s and Children’s Hospital Monday.
As ABC 17 News previously reported, MU Health has signed a letter of intent with SSM to purchase St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City and Audrain Medical Center in Mexico.
“I think it’s safe to say that SSM has been a good partner working with MU Health Care and we are trying to come up with the best possible arrangement to best serve Jefferson City, Mexico and Columbia,” Curtright told ABC 17 News Monday.
Right now, talks are in the “due diligence” process, during which time both parties are working to decide if the partnership is good for our state. Curtright said he hopes to have an update on discussions in the “not too distant future.”
Completing the due diligence process is one of MU Health’s strategic goals for fiscal year 2019. The organization is working to make more room for patients and expand access to health care across central Missouri.
“We have a goal that we would be able to move more and more patients that tend to come from Cole County. How can we make it so those patients don’t necessarily have to come to Columbia to get their care?” Curtright said. “In addition, we’re hopefully going to be able to keep a lot of patients in Mexico as well for their primary care services.”
In terms of financials, leaders repeatedly emphasized that MU Health has had a phenomenal year. In 2018, the organization hit two major milestones: surpassing $1 billion in total revenue and exceeding $100 million in operating income.
