Control of Keokuk Area Hospital in southeast Iowa will be transferred from current parent company, UnityPoint Health of West Des Moines, Iowa, to Blessing Health System of Quincy, Illinois, effective March 1.
On October 20, 2020, UnityPoint Health and Blessing Health System began talks regarding the long-term health care needs of Keokuk and the surrounding area. Those talks resulted in what the two parties call a “member substitution,” rather than a traditional purchase. Blessing is replacing UnityPoint Health as the parent of Keokuk Area Hospital.
“We are excited to have this opportunity to work with the residents of the region,” said Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Health System and Blessing Hospital. “We want to transform the healthcare system upon which they rely into one that will be available and relevant to the healthcare needs of the future.”
Keokuk Area Hospital has struggled over the past several years, as have many rural hospitals. Blessing Health
System believes the first two steps in restructuring the organization and strengthening its financial position are reopening the Keokuk Medical Clinic physician practice Blessing formerly operated, and enhancing the care available through the hospital’s emergency room.
“We want to bring specialists into the community and keep as much care local as we can,” Kahn continued.
John Sheehan, Chief Administrative Officer, UnityPoint Health, explains, “Last fall, Blessing Health System emerged as a long-term local partner to support Keokuk Area Hospital in continuing to serve the people of Keokuk. UnityPoint Health is proud to have supported the health care needs of patients in the community since 2017. As part of our ongoing commitment to our patients, UnityPoint Health saw an opportunity to maintain quality health care in the region. We are proud to work with Blessing Health System amidst this hospital realignment.”