The Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation announced today that it has entered into a long-term lease with SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, MO to assume operation of the Dexter hospital as lessee. The agreement will be effective on April 1, 2019, at the termination of the current lease term with Dexter Hospital, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunLink Health Systems headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The decision to enter into the agreement was unanimous by the Foundation’s Board which is comprised of 12 community leaders from Stoddard County.
Foundation President Darla Grossman said that over the course of long range planning, the Foundation Board considered both a renewal with SunLink and the new lease with SoutheastHEALTH. “As we considered how best to provide health services to the citizens of Dexter and surrounding communities, the Foundation Board believes the arrangement with Southeast will better ensure care that is of the highest quality, the best value and close to home.”
She added that SoutheastHEALTH will, in the near future, break ground for a new family medical clinic. The clinic will be located on property which is owned by the Dexter Foundation and which is not included under the current lease agreement. The clinic will offer services provided by SoutheastHEALTH specialists. “We are pleased to offer residents of Stoddard County excellent care, both at the hospital and the clinic, that is close to home,” said SoutheastHEALTH President and CEO Wayne Smith.
Smith added that SoutheastHEALTH has a long-standing and valued relationship with the Dexter Community. Southeast has maintained a satellite Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic which has operated three days a week in Dexter since 1998. Specialists from Cardiovascular Consultants, who are affiliated with the Southeast Medical Group, also offer a weekly cardiovascular clinic in Dexter.
Grossman and Smith said more details will be made available as the project develops.