Saint Francis outsourcing housekeeping services

Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau will outsource its environmental services department, beginning in January.

The environmental services department will transition to Hospital Housekeeping Systems, which serves more than 250 hospitals in the United States, said Barbara Thompson, vice president of marketing and foundation at Saint Francis, in an email.

The privately-held organization was founded in 1975 in Texas, according to Hospital Housekeeping Systems' website, and is the largest privately-owned environmental services provider in the country.

Hospital Housekeeping Systems has better equipment, techniques and training for employees, and also has a greater purchasing power for supplies, Thompson said.

"The outsourcing of nonclinical areas like housekeeping is a common practice regionally and nationally," she said in the email. "We determined this was the best and most cost-effective solution for Saint Francis."

Savings from the transition are expected to be more than $800,000 the first year, Thompson said.

The department employs about 70 employees, and all will transition to Hospital Housekeeping Systems, unless they choose not to and quit, she said.

Thompson did not comment on how the transition will affect employees' pay, benefits, hours or job duties.

ashedd@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

211 St. Francis Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO