by Mari Radtke
MercyOne in Hartley did not get their lease renewed as recently as 2022. The Sioux City-based hospital network, owned by Trinity Health in Michigan just announced it closure of 2 clinics and the hospital in Paullina, Primghar and Sutherland. Local health care access is important to communities.
The MercyOne clinic in Sutherland is privately owned. Effort is underway to fill the space with a new provider, however, no announcements have been made.
Paullina residents are served by two clinics, Mill Creek, owned and operated by Orange City Area Health Center and MercyOne. The MercyOne Clinic building is owned by the City of Paullina and operated by the MercyOne Hospital in Primghar.
The MercyOne Hospital in Primghar announced a few weeks ago its closure at the end of September when it announced the closure of the 2 clinics. Individual cities and local leaders are working to fill the voids left behind for healthcare service.
Local financial resources have evolved as a concern for the leaders as well. A trust was established many years ago to assist with healthcare reportedly, “nearest the center of the county.” The trust supported Baum Harmon Hospital for many years. As all things right now, local interests get absorbed by larger interests. The direction of the trust benefits currently are under review by trustees.
The Paullina City Council was updated on Monday August 19 about the closure. A request from MercyOne to be released from its property lease at the end of October was presented and considered. Initial reaction from council members seemed to be to deny the request. The original lease, signed in 1993, provided the property at $500 per month “indefinitely as long as hospital services are provided.”
A special council meeting of the Primghar City Council was held Wednesday August 21. City Attorney Bruce Green, wanted to address the destination of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars. A LOST tax was approved by voters in 1995 and instituted in 1996. Primghar voters approved the 1% sales tax to be allocated 50% to “any lawful purpose of the City” and 50% for the support of Baum Harmon Memorial Hospital (BHMH). The ballot language went on to provide for changes to BHMH but continued to support healthcare in Primghar as determined by BHMH Board and City Council or successor board. MercyOne chose to stop supporting Kids Kampus in 2018. The City Council approved a resolution at that time to redirect the sales tax dollars from assisting the hospital to Kids Kampus. Those dollars continue to support Kids Kampus.
MercyOne Hospital in Primghar and the clinics in Paullina and Sutherland are slated to cease operations at the end of September. About 45 employees are being displaced by the move.