Partners in Progress: SoutheastHEALTH, Missouri Southern Healthcare finalize partnership

SoutheastHEALTH has expanded its healthcare services with the acquisition of Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo., and its physician offices and clinics in Dexter, Bloomfield, Malden and Bernie.

Southeast officially began the new partnership and management agreement with Dexter Hospital, LLC, on Jan. 1. Dexter Hospital, LLC, will manage the 48-bed acute care hospital for SoutheastHEALTH during a transition period ending June 30, 2013.

__Upgrading Technology__

The Dexter, Mo., hospital is now a part of SoutheastHEALTH.

The Dexter hospital soon will have signage displaying its new name, Southeast Health Center. SoutheastHEALTH executive vice president of planning and business Development Jim Limbaugh says that in the coming months "we will be looking at upgrading technology, making improvements in the emergency department and introducing new technologies such as telemedicine."

"Our staff is looking forward to teaming up with SoutheastHEALTH," notes Reza Jalal, MD, chief of the medical staff at the Dexter hospital. "With this partnership, we hope to strengthen our primary care base in Stoddard County and improve access to specialty consultant services in our community."

Southeast and the Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation signed a lease agreement last summer that paved the way for the partnership. Regional Healthcare Foundation vice president Aaron Mathis of Dexter welcomes the new partnership.

__First-Class Healthcare__

Mathis says, "SoutheastHEALTH has had a good relationship with many of our residents for quite some time. The investment they have already made and will continue to make will ensure that the residents of Stoddard County have first-class healthcare in our rural community for many years to come."

SoutheastHEALTH vice president and chief financial officer Hugh King notes that Missouri Southern will be key to SoutheastHEALTH's continued regional growth. "We feel very fortunate to have such a capable, experienced team in place here who share our commitment to providing excellent care at an affordable cost, close to home."

SoutheastHEALTH has a long-standing and valued relationship with the Dexter community. Southeast has maintained a satellite cardiac rehabilitation clinic at Missouri Southern since 1998. Specialists from Cardiovascular Consultants, who are affiliated with the Southeast Medical Group, also offer a weekly cardiovascular clinic at Dexter.