The end of mediated conversations between Newman Regional Health and Stormont-Vail Health does not mean the end of local discussions about strategic partnerships.
In fact, Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple says those discussions will continue with currently-unnamed partners on several levels.
Both sides agreed to a mediated process late last year after Stormont-Vail privately mentioned plans for a better than $30 million medical facility in Emporia and Newman Regional countered with a package of proposed zoning code text changes to both protect its financial interests and give city leaders more opportunities to look into potential plans from outside medical entities. The process began in April and ended recently with a joint statement expressing a commitment to ongoing discussions about the best care for area patients but no word on any outcomes directly connected to the conversation. However, Pimple thanked Newman Regional staffers for their dedication to patients, also thanking Stormont-Vail/Cotton O’Neil staff and independent providers for their work.
While not confirmed yet by KVOE News — calls, emails and texts to Stormont-Vail on the topic have not been acknowledged — Pimple says the Stormont purchase of land near Emporia comes as no surprise. She says Stormont has expressed its intent to the hospital to acquire land and expand its local services for roughly a year.
Pimple’s comments on partnerships came before the hospital’s Board of Trustees had its monthly meeting Wednesday, and the hospital enjoyed a solid financial month of May. Net income for the month, almost $228,000, was favorable to budget by $300,000, helped by a strong month for outpatient revenue. Year-to-date, there is a net loss of almost $320,000, but that is favorable to budget by over $470,000.
