Corporate News and Events

Mercy Medical Center – Sioux City Acquires Oakland Memorial Hospital and Clinics

Nebraska hospital gives Trinity Health 31 owned hospitals in eight states

Novi Michigan (January 4, 2007) — Mercy Medical Center - Sioux City (Iowa), a member of Trinity Health, has acquired Oakland Memorial Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska.  For the past six years, this 23-bed critical access hospital has thrived under Mercy Sioux-City’s management and helped create a strong referral network in northeast Nebraska. A general election referendum to dissolve the local government hospital district in Oakland allowed Mercy-Sioux City to acquire the hospital. 

Coupled with the recent acquisition of the New Albany Surgical Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Trinity Health now owns 31 Catholic hospitals in eight states – Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Idaho, California and Nebraska.

The hospital was renamed Oakland Mercy Hospital immediately following the transfer of ownership on January 1.  The transaction also includes two family practice medical clinics.  Mercy-Sioux City will continue to employ all of the current 42 staff members, and Tim Fischer will continue to serve as CEO and administrator.

“Mercy-Sioux City enjoys a positive relationship with Oakland Mercy Hospital through its management agreement, and through the recruitment of quality providers,” said Michael Slubowski, President, Hospitals and Health Networks, Trinity Health.  “The formal acquisition of the hospital and clinics will provide residents with stable, consistent health care services.”

Hospital leaders at Mercy and Oakland Memorial began to discuss the potential for an enhanced Mercy-OMH partnership in 2005.  On Aug. 14, 2006, leaders from both entities signed a Letter of Intent to explore the potential transfer of the hospital and clinics’ ownership.  On Sept. 1., a petition to place a proposal to dissolve the local hospital district on the November ballot was validated by officials in Burt County.

“We look forward to extending Mercy’s healing ministry to the residents of Burt County,” said Paul Dougherty, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City.  “We believe that people in all areas – rural and urban – deserve access to health care services of the highest quality.  Residents in areas like Burt County need a good hospital, and we look forward to working with physicians, local leaders, and community members to ensure that they continue to have excellent healthcare services – close to home.” 

In addition to its Sioux City medical center, the Mercy – Sioux City system also includes Baum Harmon Mercy Hospital in Primghar, Iowa.  Mercy-Sioux City manages Hawarden Community Hospital and Hawarden Community Clinic in Hawarden, Iowa, and Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Neb., as well as 25 family practice medical clinics and nine specialty clinics in Iowa and Nebraska.

With hospitals in eight states, Trinity Health is the fourth-largest Catholic health care system in the country. Based in Novi, Mich., Trinity Health owns 31 hospitals, 379 outpatient facilities, numerous long-term care facilities, and home health offices and hospice programs.  Employing approximately 45,100 full-time staff, Trinity Health reported $6.1 billion in unrestricted revenue and $307.0 million in community benefit ministry in fiscal year 2006. For more information about Trinity Health, visit www.trinity-health.org.