Jennie Stuart Health board members have been fielding calls since early in the week from community members and elected officials alarmed by reports the board is dealing with major financial loses and plans to sell the Hopkinsville hospital or merge with the Evansville, Indiana-based Deaconess Health System.
The board is scheduled to meet at noon Thursday at Jennie Stuart Medical Center, but there has been no public release of potential plans from hospital officials in Hopkinsville or Evansville. Historically, Jennie Stuart has not opened its board meetings to the public.
At least two board members confirmed that non-disclosure agreements signed several months ago prevent them from publicly discussing details of a change in Jennie Stuart’s ownership.
Hopkinsville Mayor James R. Knight Jr. said he and others he’s spoken to oppose losing local control of the hospital.
“We all believe very strongly that we need to remain a community hospital,” Knight said.
Out-of-town ownership would diminish the community’s ability to communicate its needs with the hospital, he said.