SJRMC, Ascension still working on split

No deadline has been set to decide what organization St. Joseph Regional Medical Center will be affiliated with once it parts ways with Ascension Health.

The Lewiston hospital announced last September that it would seek a different corporate sponsor or affiliation and that the process might take two years.

St. Joe's became a part of Ascension in 2002 when its then-owner, the Carondelet Health system, merged with the biggest Catholic and not-for-profit chain of hospitals in the nation.

Sweeping changes were made to the hospital's board at the same time the Ascension discussion began last fall. Seven community members left in September and were replaced with four high-ranking Ascension executives.

The reorganization was intended to allow decisions about the process to be made more quickly, according to an internal memo from interim hospital CEO Michael Rooney that was obtained by the Tribune.

Board members have met once a month since September to discuss the issue and are now scaling back to every other month, said Mike Thomason, one of two Lewiston-Clarkston Valley residents who stayed on the board.

"I don't think there's a date certain," Thomason said. "I think it's a higher priority to have a good solution than a fast solution."

Ascension officials typically participate in board meetings electronically, not in person, Thomason said. Thomason also serves as a Lewiston port commissioner.

Thomason declined to share anything, even in broad terms, about the possibilities the board might be considering, referring those questions to Rooney. Those deliberations are confidential since the hospital is a "private business," Thomason said.

Rooney was out of the office Friday afternoon.

Officials from Ascension's St. Louis headquarters declined more than one request from the Tribune this week for an interview.

St. Joe's and Ascension have never publicly disclosed the reasons for looking at the change. St. Joe's is far from most of Ascension's other sites, which are predominantly in the East and Midwest.

"Our search for a new strategic partner is not a 'bail out,' but rather an opportunity to align with a more geographically relevant health care system," according to the memo.

The uncertainty about what affiliation St. Joe's may have in the future is not the only issue facing the hospital.

Exactly where the hospital is at in its search for a new CEO is not clear. Hospital officials have previously stated that search would be on hold until St. Joe's knew what direction it would take. Thomason said he had no updates.

Hospital spokeswoman Christina Metcalf referred questions about the CEO search to Rooney.

---

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.