Sisters of Mercy assume operation of St. John's Regional in Joplin

A Tuesday afternoon chapel ceremony at St. John's Regional Medical Center commemorated the transfer of sponsorship of the facility to the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Mercy assumed full responsbility for operating the 367-bed acute care hospital and related operations on Nov. 2. St. John's was previously sponsored and operated by Catholic Health Initiatives.

"Mercy is delighted to become part of the Joplin community," Sisters of Mercy Health System President and CEO Lynn Britton said. "We have deep roots and a strong history of service in communities throughout Southwest Missouri and surrounding states. In addition to being a good match geographically for Mercy, we and St. John's share a rich heritage as health ministries founded by the Sisters of Mercy."

Mercy's sponsorship of St. John's is expected to significantly extend Mercy's service area and offerings for residents of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas, officials said.

During an interview with the Tribune last month, MHSK President and CEO John Woodrich said the affiliation with St. John's could be beneficial, allowing Mercy the opportunity to coordinate specialty services the health center currently does not offer. Other potential benefits of the relationship include: clinics in Fort Scott offered by St. John's medical staff, the provision of more medical services locally so patients won't have to travel as far for those services, and strengthening of the economy, Woodrich said.

The Sisters of Mercy Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives, a national nonprofit health organization, began exploring the idea of transferring sponsorship of St. John's to Mercy in May.

Concurrent with the transfer of sponsorship, Gary Pulsipher will assume the role of president and CEO of St. John's Regional Medical Center, another hospital in the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Pulsipher was a leader within Mercy from 1994-2002, serving as president and CEO of St. John's Hospital in Lebanon, Mo., and regional vice president of St. John's Health System in Springfield with executive responsibility for five regional hospitals.

Since 2002, Pulsipher has served as president and CEO for Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Neb., and administrator of Silverton Hospital in Silverton, Ore.

"I am excited to rejoin the Mercy organization in this position," Pulsipher said. "Mercy has a well-deserved reputation for providing compassionate, faith-based health care combined with innovative medical and information technology. I am confident that St. John's and the Joplin community will benefit from the strong regional infrastructure and physician relationships Mercy has developed over the past decade."

Beth O'Brien, the senior vice president and group executive officer of Catholic Health Initiatives, said, "We are pleased that the transfer of St. John's to the Sisters of Mercy Health System will ensure the continuation of a Catholic health ministry that has been serving area residents for more than a century. The board, leadership, medical staff and employees have worked very hard over the past year and a half to enhance all aspects of care delivery and operating performance at St. John's. We know that the medical center will thrive as part of Mercy and that the communities St. John's serves will benefit as well."

With headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., Mercy operates 19 other acute care hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, health plans and related health and human services in a seven-state area, including nearby hospitals, physician offices and other operations in Springfield, Mo., Rogers, Ark., Independence, Kan., and Fort Scott.