St. Francis CEO reports progress on Bluff hospital

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Enough progress has been made in the joint venture between Physicians Advanced Health Care Group of Poplar Bluff and St. Francis Medical Center of Cape Girardeau that ground has been broken for a new medical unit here.

In January the two entities announced their joint venture. Since then, according to Steven C. Bjelich, president and CEO of St. Francis, the two groups have been taking care of the legal aspects of their merger.

"We have already made enough progress that we have broken ground for the ambulatory surgical center," Bjelich said. "We're progressing very nicely consistent with the time frame based on the need and on our due diligence."

The diagnostic imaging center at the campus on Highway PP is already in place. What is left to build is the medical office building, radiation therapy, and cardiac catheterization, in addition to an acute care facility.