ST. FRANCIS CEO SAYS HOSPITAL MUST READY FOR MANAGED CARE

After nearly two months on the job, the new president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center doesn't foresee any major changes on the horizon for the hospital.

However, Jim Sexton, who took the helm of the Cape Girardeau hospital Nov. 11, said St. Francis must be positioned for the future of a managed-care philosophy in the region's health-care market.

"The current level of managed care in the community is growing and the hospital needs to respond," Sexton said.

While managed care is catching on more slowly in the Cape Girardeau market than in others, Sexton predicted 35 to 45 percent of St. Francis' business will be under managed-care agreements in "the not too distant future."

Managed care is intended to control soaring medical costs. Unlike the traditional system of services provided for a fee set by the health-care provider, managed care caps the amount that can be charged.

"It forces people to be restrained in the amount of resources used," Sexton said.

Prior to assuming the leadership at St. Francis, Sexton, 50, was chief executive officer of two hospitals in separate and culturally diverse communities in Wisconsin.

In Fon du Lac, Wis., a city similar in size to Cape Girardeau, Sexton spent 22 years in administration at 330-bed St. Agnes Hospital, including the last 15 years as CEO. One of his major achievements at St. Agnes was engineering a merger with a 53-member, multispecialists physicians group. Sexton said the merger allowed the hospital to improve its health-delivery system.

For the last eight years Sexton concurrently ran Waupun Memorial Hospital in the rural town of Waupun, Wis. Although that facility was licensed to hold up to 70 patients, the daily patient population averaged 15.

"I was able to gain a diverse experience from a management perspective by managing a large urban hospital and a small rural hospital at the same time," Sexton said.

Despite its small size, Sexton said Waupun Memorial was named one of the nation's top 100 hospitals by the trade publication "Modern Health Care."

Sexton said it is important for St. Francis to work closely with cross-town rival Southeast Missouri Hospital. He already has had some discussion on cooperation with Southeast Missouri Hospital Administrator Jim Wente

"I think there is room for a great deal of collaboration between the two hospitals," Sexton said. However, he said the two facilities shouldn't pursue collaboration just for the sake of doing it.

"I think it is important to have clearly stated points for collaboration. It is just a matter of being able to identify benefits and put aside some of the issues of the past and move toward the future," Sexton said.

As to possible areas where St. Francis and Southeast can work together, Sexton said it was too early to be specific but "there are a number of areas worthy of discussion."

"As an example, one thing I think would be appropriate would be for both hospitals to put together their financial resources for the medical systems of Cape Girardeau instead of promoting ourselves individually," he said.

Rather than each hospital independently promoting identical services, Sexton said the hospitals should focus on letting consumers know what services and specialties are available in the area to stem outward migration to St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., for treatment.

When the public knows exactly what is available, Sexton said, it can make better choices concerning area health-care providers.

Sexton soon will be joined in Cape Girardeau by his wife, who is still in Fon du Lac. They have eight children between the two of them.

"There is a great deal of similarity between the Cape and Fon du Lac communities, in terms of (population) numbers, the political mix, the conservative nature of the community and on an economic basis. All of these things strike me as very similar," Sexton said.

Sexton is pleased with the caliber of health care in the area.

"As it relates to the medical infrastructure, one of the first things that impressed me was the work ethic of the medical community," Sexton said. "They work hard and work long hours; that is impressive to me."

In particular, he feels St. Francis is in a strong position for growth with an excellent location near Interstate 55, good facilities -- including a new medical office building scheduled for completion in December -- and plenty of room for expansion.

"I think we have a very open and positive medical staff and a board that is willing and anxious to move the hospital forward," Sexton said.

Sexton replaced John E. Fidler, who ran St. Francis from January 1992 until October. Sexton was chosen St. Francis' new president and CEO from among three finalists by a selection committee composed of physicians, hospital employees and members of the hospital's board of directors.

The transition in leadership has gone smoothly, he said.

"People, I think, have been reasonably receptive to my arrival and made me feel welcome," said Sexton. "That is certainly better than being viewed as the enemy."