HOT SPRINGS — Mercy Health System is moving forward with plans to sell Mercy Hospital Hot Springs to another health system or continuing to operate the hospital in a new way.
The hospital called off its plans June 27 to sell to the for-profit Capella Healthcare after it received opposition from the Vatican and the Federal Trade Commission.
On July 12 the health system released a statement from CEO Lynn Britton saying that he met with the leadership team and local Sisters of Mercy recently.
“The Mercy board and management team still believe the best outcome for the Hot Springs community is to have a single, unified health care provider,” the statement said.
The health system is currently identifying other hospital systems to buy the hospital as well as researching ways “to reimagine Mercy Hot Springs under continuing Mercy sponsorship, focusing on what the community most needs from a local health care provider and what is sustainable.”
“Mercy will work in consultation with Bishop (Anthony B.) Taylor as we consider both options. The goal is to complete work around both options and make a decision by the end of September as to which plan will be pursued,” the statement said.
The hospital recently made interim leadership changes. Kim Day, president of Mercy’s central region, remains the interim president.
In a statement to hospital employees July 9, Day said, “Strong leadership has always been a hallmark at Mercy Hot Springs, and it is especially critical as work continues to find the right solution for enhancing health care in our community.”
n Two Hot Springs employees, Brenda Chase and Michele Diedrich, will move to similar positions at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers by Aug. 1. Chase will be the new chief operating officer and Diedrich will be the chief nursing officer.
n The new COO in Hot Springs beginning July 22 is Michele Schaefer, who was the senior vice president of regional operations at Mercy in Springfield, Mo. She was previously the CEO at St. Joseph Health Center in Kansas City.
“I couldn’t think of a more qualified leader to take the operational reins in Hot Springs,” Day said.
- The new chief nursing officer is Karen Sweeney, who has been a nurse and nursing leader for nearly 40 years. Schaefer and Sweeney are expected to be in Hot Springs for only four to six months while the health system tries to sell or restructure the hospital.
- The new vice president of operation will be Christi Whatley. She was previously the vice president of quality resources.
- Two senior leaders will remain in their positions. Sara Bradley will remain vice president of finance. Deacon Patrick McCruden, vice president of mission, will also now oversee human resources and marketing/communications in addition to taking care of the hospital’s mission, pastoral care, senior services, volunteers and the child advocacy center.
- Andy Thompson, interim leader of Mercy Clinic Hot Springs, is now the chief operating officer of the clinic.
