SGCMH Closing Obstetrics, Home Health Departments
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Last week Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH) sent the following letter out to employees and media, informing them of an impending reduction in services:
Dear Staff / Community Residents / Stakeholders,
As a rural, county-owned hospital, our mission has always been to provide high-quality, accessible care to our community, while ensuring we remain a sustainable resource for generations to come. Like many rural healthcare facilities across the country, we have faced significant financial challenges in recent years. After extensive review and careful consideration, we are implementing a strategic restructuring plan to stabilize our financial position and better align with the evolving needs of our patients.
Effective September 9, 2025, we will begin the process of:
• Closing our Labor and Delivery Department
• Closing our Home Health Department
• Restructuring some other staffing areas
These decisions were not made lightly. These changes are necessary to allow us to operate within a financially sustainable model. The services being discontinued, while important, have seen declining demand and increasing operational costs, making them no longer viable for our hospital to support long-term.
What This Means Moving Forward
Our restructuring plan is designed to:
• Return the organization to positive net revenues
• Grow high-demand services, such as outpatient surgery, women’s wellness and other specialty care
• Remain competitive in staff compensation, including wages and benefits, which are critical to retaining and attracting the talented professionals who serve our community.
We deeply value our employees and recognize the impact this will have on those affected. We are committed to supporting our staff through this transition with respect, transparency, and, where possible, assistance in exploring internal placement options or other resources.
Commitment to Our Community
While this marks the end of certain services, it also represents a new chapter of growth and resilience for our hospital. We are not stepping back from our mission – we are positioning ourselves to continue fulfilling it, in a way that is both financially and operationally sustainable.
We appreciate the continued trust and support of our staff, patients, and community during this time. Your understanding and collaboration are essential as we navigate these changes and build a stronger, more responsive healthcare facility for the future of Ste. Genevieve County.
Sincerely,
CEO / Steve Henson
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital
HISTORY
The hospital has been in operation since April 1969. Before the hospital opened, county residents had to be transported out of county.
“Everybody went to Perryville,” Melinda Fisher said in 2019, when she and the hospital were both celebrating 50 years of service.
Fisher, who later became director of the housekeeping department, said originally the hospital had “babies and Med-Surg,” which refers to medical-surgical nurses who can tend to post-surgical patients as well as general-care patients.
The Intensive Care Unit was added in 1972.
The hospital’s capacity expanded from 35 to 53 beds in the 1970s. The 1980s saw the addition of the emergency room, surgery department, laboratory, and x-ray services were significantly upgraded and expanded.
The growth has continued. The hospital now has some 420 employees.