Possible Perry County Memorial Hospital partnership subject of meeting today

A potential partnership between Perry County Memorial Hospital and another health care organization will be the subject of a meeting this morning in Perryville, Missouri, organized by local business leaders.

Frank Robinson of Robinson Construction, one of the county's largest employers, will host the meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the company's events center, 2411 Walters Lane in Perryville.

In a letter to the editor — published today and which may be read here — Robinson contended the hospital's Board of Directors appears to be moving toward a partnership with Mercy, a St. Louis-based health care organization.

"While they may be acting in what they think is in the best interest of our county, I think that they are about to make a very irresponsible decision. They are about to enter into an agreement with Mercy Hospital for management of our county hospital. Mercy Hospital is a large aggressive hospital that I think will be in full control quickly. This is being done secretly, without input from owners [Perry County citizens] of the hospital," he wrote.

In email correspondence, Robinson said increased health care costs are a main concern.

"Robinson Construction currently has health care agreements with SoutheastHEALTH. We are happy with the price and the care from SoutheastHEALTH and prefer to stay with SoutheastHEALTH," he said.

Two boards — directors of the organization's not-for-profit corporation and publicly elected trustees — oversee the hospital. Directors are Keith Moeckel, Darrell Niswonger, Beth Guth, Kay Taylor and Linda Buerck. Trustees are Steve Rozier, Greg Unger, Patrick Naeger, Niswonger and Guth.

Chris Wibbenmeyer is chief executive officer of the hospital. According to a hospital employee, Wibbenmeyer was conducting personal business and was not available for comment Monday.

Requests for comment were left Monday with Moeckel, Guth, Buerck, Niswonger, Rozier and Unger. None responded.

Taylor said she was "not at liberty" to discuss the issue.

Naeger was unavailable.