MERGER FEARS DISCUSSED; CATHOLICS MEET WITH ST. FRANCIS PRESIDENT

St. Francis Medical Center officials attempted Wednesday to allay fears of a group of Catholics worried that the proposed affiliation with Southeast Missouri Hospital would lead to loss of the medical center's Catholic identity.

St. Francis president and chief executive officer James Sexton and members of the medical center's board of directors met with a group of 10 people who represented the concerns of many area Catholics.

The meeting, which began at 7 a.m. and lasted about 45 minutes, was called so the group could express concerns to the hospital administration about the proposed affiliation. Chief among the concerns was the retaining of the hospital's Catholic identity after the affiliation.

In December, the two Cape Girardeau hospitals began talks about joining forces in a changing health-care market. The talks have been continuing since that time. As the talks progressed, several concerns have been raised within the Roman Catholic communities of Southeast Missouri about what the affiliation would mean to the medical center.

In addition to the Catholic identity question, concerns were raised at the meeting about the financial status of Southeast Missouri Hospital compared to St. Francis and about the diluting of competition caused by affiliation. But chief among the concerns was that the traditional religious nature of St. Francis would be lost.

Even while acknowledging a greater openness to other religious traditions, retired businessman Frank Emmendorfer, one of the people attending the meeting, said those who were there were very protective of their own Catholic faith.

"People who have lived here all their lives and whose parents and grandparents supported the hospital all their lives want to see things stay the same," Emmendorfer said after the meeting.

Rumors had circulated that many of the religious artifacts at the hospital would be removed if the hospitals affiliate. In particular, it was rumored that crucifixes would be taken out of the hospital rooms and the statue of St. Francis would be removed from the front of the building. Also, a concern was expressed that the chapel in the hospital might be closed, and the pastoral care program might be shut down.

Sexton read to the group sections of the draft of the affiliation master plan that stated the Catholic identity of St. Francis would be maintained even after permanent affiliation.

"I feel very strongly about this and told them that if the crucifixes go and the statue of St. Francis goes, then I go," Sexton said.

He said the board expressed a similar commitment to retaining the institution's Catholic identity. He also said Southeast Missouri Hospital has a chapel and a fine pastoral care program.

"There are no major dichotomies between us," he said.

Another rumor had circulated that the financial situation of Southeast Missouri Hospital was less stable than that of St. Francis. In particular, the rumor said that Southeast Missouri Hospital had more substantial long-term debt.

With the permission of Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator James Wente, Sexton showed the group the audited balance sheets from the two hospitals. Both the income and the long-term debt of the two hospitals were similar, and the capacity to cover the debt was adequate, Sexton told the group.

A third concern was that affiliation would dilute the competition in the area between hospitals and thus drive up costs of medical care.

Sexton showed the group information about the competition local hospitals are already receiving from hospitals outside the immediate area. Advertising from competing health-care providers in Carbondale, Ill., St. Louis and as far away as Springfield, Ill., already is in the Cape Girardeau area.

Although he was unable to gauge reaction of the others in the group, retired businessman Joe Mirgeaux described the meeting as constructive and congenial. He said the hospital administration was very cooperative and did a good job in clearing up the questions.

Mirgeaux said his major concern was that the Catholic identity of the hospital not be lost. He said he was satisfied that nothing would be disturbed in that area.

Sexton promised to meet with them individually or again as a group if they had more questions, Mirgeaux said.