COUNTY ENDORSES MERGER OF HOSPITALS

Leaders of Cape Girardeau's two hospitals, having won the unanimous endorsement of the Cape Girardeau County Commission, continue in their efforts to merge the two entitles into one. The commissioners have agreed to work with hospital antitrust lawyers to draft a letter of support for the merger plan. The letters would go to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Missouri attorney general's office.

Citing the "spirit of cooperation" the merger efforts represent, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said it is "just wonderful" and of a piece with other recent examples of local cooperation between Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Associate Commissioner Max Stovall added his "wholehearted endorsement."

"We are knocking on businesses' doors," said St. Francis Medical Center board chairman Harry Rediger. Approximately 15 major employers are targeted for presentations on the merger plan. Presenters include Rediger and St. Francis chief executive Jim Sexton, together with Southeast Missouri Hospital board chairman Rob Erlbacher and chief executive Jim Wente.

Meanwhile, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has announced that his office will hold a public hearing on the proposed merger. The time, date and location of the hearing, likely later this month, will be announced. Officials of the two hospitals have stated their desire to enter into a consent decree with the attorney general to guarantee what they say will be $44 million in total savings.

It is never easy to accomplish a venture of this magnitude. Whether you agree with the merger or not, credit must be given to the leaders of each institution for the forthright manner in which they have gone about their effort, putting information before the public and asking for input for all involved.