Skiff to begin consolidation talks with Mercy

Skiff Medical Center announced it plans to enter into 120 days of exclusive talks with Mercy Health Network to consider an expansion into Jasper County with a potential consolidation after a closed session during the Thursday Board of Trustees meeting.

“We have been extremely privileged to have Mercy recognize the excellence we provide at Skiff and express interest,” said Skiff CEO Brett Altman. “There was no denying from an early stage what a natural fit the Skiff and Mercy cultures were with each other.”

A local affiliation team made up of Altman, Sheryl Tilus, chief nursing officer, board members Jeff King and Lois Vogel, Dr. Paul Ruggle and Dr. Zack Alexander, local physicians, Newton Clinic administrator Mark Thayer and city councilwoman Lin Chapé evaluated opportunities and said they believe the possibility of Skiff joining with Mercy would best benefit both organizations, as well as people living in Jasper County.

“Through partnership with MHN, Skiff will be able to tap into a wide spectrum of expertise,” Ruggle said. “Meanwhile, Mercy will be able to grow their relationship with the residents of Newton, Jasper County and surrounding communities. Those residents will gain access to the broader range of local services, while still enjoying the highly skilled care they have relied upon for more than 90 years.”

At this time, Mercy owns 11 hospitals, is affiliated with 29 community hospitals and 142 physician clinics.

Skiff, an independent, nonprofit, city-owned hospital, first opened as Mary Frances Skiff Memorial Hospital in 1921. The hospital has 48 beds and about 200,000 square feet of space. Attached to the hospital is a 50,000-square-foot medical office building containing local physician practices and the hospital’s physical medicine and rehabilitation center.

Skiff reported total net operating revenue of $33,952,315 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, with a loss of $3,143,583, according to Altman.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity before us,” Vogel said. “This is not a ‘done deal’ but rather another step in a very lengthy process. During the next four to six months, local community support will be vital to get this accomplished. In an era where health care is changing at a breakneck pace, and where hospitals across the nation are facing the choice of either seeking partnerships or closing their doors, Skiff is looking forward to an arrangement that will ensure this community continues to have a local hospital.”

“This potential partnership is analogous to Springboard Engineering being acquired by UL or the Iowa Speedway being acquired by NASCAR – it creates a brighter future for Skiff, Newton and Jasper County,” King said.

Altman also announced Thursday that Skiff Medical Center received an “A” from the Leapfrog Group for hospital quality and safety, focusing on hospital structures, processes of care and outcomes.

Leapfrog is a national nonprofit organization that works to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality and affordability of health care for Americans according to its website. It was founded in 2000 and has grown to include providers who offer health benefits to more the 37 million Americans in all 50 states.

Altman shared news of a new physical therapy assistant program that will be available at DMACC starting either in the fall of 2015 or 2016.

“This is a really good thing. We now have the nursing program, court reporting program and soon we’ll have a PTA program. (It) would really help Skiff because we actually have a very low number of PTAs compared to PTs (physical therapist),” Altman said.

Former physical therapist Tom Wheatly and his wife Norma stopped by Skiff to tour the physical therapy department and also donated a drawing of hospital created by a former employee who now lives in Montana as an artist.

“Tom is kind of a legend of the physical therapy department here. He started the physical therapy department back in the 60s. I think Tom was humbled to hear that his name is still comes up frequently,” Altman said.

In other business, Ruggle was named president of the medical staff for 2015.

“That was suggested by almost everyone. Assuming that we are going through an affiliation transition year, Dr. Ruggle is a senior partner, he is a great spokesman, well known, well respected and so we’re thrilled that he has accepted to do that,” Altman said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.