More than two dozen local and area health care organizations were recognized as "Partners in Health Care" at St. Francis Medical Center's annual banquet Tuesday. More than 800 people attended the event held at the Show Me Center.

"Our annual banquet gives the medical center a chance to say thank you...the community...for the loyal support you have given to St. Francis these past 117 years." said St. Francis President John E. Fidler in his remarks to those at the dinner. "Tonight we're recognizing a number of agencies and institutions which, along with St. Francis, form the fabric of this area's health care system.

"Together we are partners in health care and stewards of the community's trust. We are dependent upon each other to assure that the people of Cape Girardeau and the region have access to a health care system that is responsive to their need," he said. "Hospitals such as St. Francis Medical Center would be hard pressed to fulfill their health care mission without the resources, support and cooperation of organizations such as these."

Among the area agencies recognized with "Partners in Health Care" plaques were the American Hearth Association, the American Lung Association, the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society, the Cape Girardeau Community Counseling Center, the Cape Girardeau Business Health Care Group, the Cape Girardeau County Pharmacy Association, the American Association of Retired Persons, the Cape County Health Department, the Cape County Nutrition Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Perry County Memorial Hospital, Madison Memorial Hospital, the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Nursing, the Salvation Army, the Kidney Foundation, FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau, the United Way, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Easter Seal Society, Crippled Children's Services, the Community Council on Child Abuse, the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri and Vision 2000.