The city of Mexico and Audrain County have spent good resources on a study to look at the needs and economic viability of healthcare facilities.

Mexico City Manager Bruce Slagle talked about the study last week during a work session with the council over the 2024 fiscal year budget. Slagle said there are three phases to the study with the first phase currently wrapping up. Slagle said the first phase has dealt with gathering data.

“We know by zip code where people go and what services they get,” Slagle said. “We’ve drilled down a lot of these numbers.”

Slagle said the second phase will take the data and look at the financial viability of efforts currently ongoing and other potential ideas being floated out there. The study will look at Ziva Medical, a company that purchased the old Audrain Medical Center and is planning on reopening a part of the hospital.

The study will also look at other ideas like building a new facility and what its services might look like. 

“We know what our service area is,” Slagle said. “What does that mean for dollars and cents?”

Slagle said it’s been determined that what was happening at the hospital before with Noble Health and SSM Health was not working. The study is looking at what is needed and the answer is some type of rural emergency hospital that would have overnight stays at best without any long-term care.

“It would be much more of a downscaled type of situation,” Slagle said. “But at minimum, you should have that.”

Slagle said the city isn’t favoring one idea over another and that whatever information is gathered from the study can be used by any group looking to provide healthcare services. A group headed by doctor Joseph Corrado and his wife Donna Corrado, who is an RN, are also looking at ideas.

“We’re not trying to pigeonhole one thing or the other or choose one side or the other,” Slagle said. “This is information Ziva can work with, this is information the Corrados can work with. Whoever and whatever wants to do whatever. Our whole side of this was to get the information.”

Slagle said once all the information is together the third phase will begin.

“Phase III is planning a game plan around their plan,” Slagle said. “That’s the next phase we want to go onto.”

Ziva Medical has some big hurdles to clear before it can open any doors. The company is currently in bankruptcy court and is being sued by Audrain County because of debts incurred by the previous owners. The courts are expected to decide on Ziva’s plans next month.

Slagle said opening a new facility would take a minimum of three years. He said the quickest solution would be for Ziva Medical to get the emergency room at the hospital back open. Ziva has said it hopes to have some services available by the end of this year.

“We know we need emergency services here,” Slagle said. “Opening the facility backup probably is the quickest way to get there.”