During the lineup of speakers at Friday’s formal transition ceremony at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Mexico, the story was told of how the facility’s founders raised $16,000 to create the facility a century ago.

When it was her time to speak, Amy O’Brien – incoming CEO of what will be rebranded as the Audrain Community Hospital – turned to Noble Health executive Don Peterson.

“Don, did we get to buy the hospital for $16,000?” she asked with a laugh.

Noble Health will officially take over ownership of the hospital from SSM Health on March 16. On Friday, SSM executives welcomed the Kansas City-based group, as well as hospital staff members, to a unique event to recognize the change.

The ceremony included readings of Bible passages, symbolic exchanges, messages of hope for the future and music, along with a series of speakers.

“We must constantly monitor community needs and respond,” said SSM Chief Operations Officer Steve Smoot of the sale of the hospital to Noble Health, which first took shape last summer. “This is one such response.”

O’Brien, whose family closed on a house in Mexico last week, noted that she still had yet to meet much of the hospital’s staff. But she urged everyone to touch base with her, formally or informally.

“At Noble Health we consider people our most valuable asset,” she said.

The healthcare organization previously purchased the hospital in Fulton. They have been working quickly to develop a regionally focused coverage strategy. The goal is to build upon the services provided by the hospital and its affiliated clinics.

Noble Health Vice President Tom Carter said expectations are for Audrain Community Hospital to be a true regional facility.

To that end the company has been holding town hall sessions to hear from residents of Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery and other surrounding counties.

“The town hall meetings have been well attended, which tells me the community cares,” O’Brien said. “We believe everyone deserves the same level of care without driving too far to find it.”

The team from Noble health have been focusing on identifying coverage needs and connecting to their new community. On Tuesday they attended Mexico’s home basketball game against Hannibal after a day of work.

Carter pointed out that the business cards Noble executives hand out have cell phone numbers rather than office numbers listed.

“We’re accessible,” he said.

Peterson said the approaching transition brought mixed emotions. They are anxious to get started, but also wary of the challenges ahead.

But Friday’s celebration was symbolic. The Biblical readings were inspirational touched with nostalgia – one cited the “light of the world” passage to emphasize the importance of healthcare providers in a community. Another pulled from “for everything this is a season” to reflect on the reality of change over time.

SSM Health St. Mary’s chaplain Christina Cobb, in her final action in the role, performed two vocals, with Sally Lane – a nurse at SSM’s Jefferson City facility – on the organ.

SSM’s regional mission director Joshua Allee put together the event. He said the most difficult part was scheduling for all the individuals involved, from executives to priests.

He has been in the healthcare industry for 15 years. In that time, Friday’s transition ceremony was just the second he’s ever organized.

It went smoothly.

“SSM has been wonderful to work with,” Carter said. “On the 16th it becomes real.”