Residents speak out after Noble Health suspends operations at Audrain, Callaway Community Hospitals

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

Members in the Audrain and Callaway Community will now have to make the journey to Columbia or Jefferson City to seek emergency services, whether that be by ambulance or driving themselves after Noble Health suspended operations at two Mid-Missouri hospitals.

Noble Health Corporation announced on Facebook all services at the Audrain Community Hospital and Callaway Community Hospital will be suspended at 5 p.m. Friday. The health care provider plans to restructure operations and become financially viable during the suspension of operations.

Brian Celoski has lived in Fulton almost his entire life and said that it's a shame to see the hospital close its doors, even if it is temporary.

"Now Jefferson City or Columbia is the only place you are going to be able to go to the hospital anymore. So yeah, it is really a sad day around here," said Celoski.

"It's tough because as a small community such as ourselves we need some sort of place we can go if we are feeling sick, ill, an emergency room that's closer than Columbia or Jefferson City," said Fulton resident R.J. Pittman.

Noble Health Corporation is expected to address problems with its revenue cycle processes and electronic medical records, which led to cash flow issues.

"We have a responsibility to the community to pull back and reassess our operations and structure so we can create a more sustainable healthcare system," said CEO of the Audrain Community Hospital Amy O'Brien and Interim CEO of Callaway Community Hospital Jeff Stone. "This is not easy. But we know this is the right thing to do for the community and the future of its healthcare system."

Earlier this week, emergency medical services were moved from both hospitals, and inpatient admissions were paused. Staff at both of the hospitals are still expected to continue to work, according to Noble Health Corporation.

On March 19, the health care provider limited operations at the hospitals due to an IT issue.

Patients that need their medical records are asked to fax requests to the following numbers:

• Audrain: 877-540-1254
• Callaway: 888-539-7699

The hospitals plan to hold staff meetings twice a week during the restructuring process, according to the health care provider. Noble Health Corporation is expected to provide the community with updates about that process.

"It's important that the community know just how committed we are to address these challenges," said O'Brien and Stone.

Some doctor's offices are also expected to stay open during the suspension of operations at the hospitals. Those offices include:

• Family Medicine/Walk In Clinic
• Internal Medicine Clinic
• Perry Clinic
• Wellsville Clinic
• Motgomery Clinic
• Auxvasse Clinic
• Callaway Rural Health Clinic
• Orthopedic Clinic
• Women's Health Clinic
• Cornerstone Family Clinic

The goal is to reopen both the Audrain Community Hospital and the Callaway Community Hospital, according to Noble Health Corporation.

ABC 17 News reached out to Nobel Health, who said in their Facebook post on Thursday that they would keep the community up to date through social media, and local media outlets, but they never responded.

Local and state officials were also contacted but have not responded at this time. Callaway Health Department did say that they were working with other officials to create a plan for the meantime.