Audrain County is still reeling after Noble Health Audrain Community Hospital announced it was temporarily suspending services last week.

Monday morning, Noble signage was wrapped in tarps and entryways bore flyers that read “Temporarily Closed. If this is an emergency please call 911.”

Officials are staying positive despite the concern over the hospital’s future. And when asked, many area leaders are moving forward with the idea that the hospital will persevere. Meanwhile, hospital officials have been visiting with area media outlets. Among clinics remaining open is Cornerstone Family Medicine.

“We are from Mexico, serving Mexico,” said a release from the clinic. “That was true last week and will be true for years to come. As things change with Noble, we will keep you informed.”

Cornerstone works on a membership model, with no co-pays and no insurance required. It is offering employees of the hospitals and their families free membership for three months. Former Noble employees currently enrolled will be free.

“We want to support you in your time of need,” the release continued. “If you feel you can pay some portion of the normal monthly fee, great. Regardless, we are here for you. Mexico is our home. You are our community. These are not empty words spoken from strangers. We are your neighbors, friends and family. Thank you for joining ours.”

Other clinics remaining open are Family Medicine/Walk-In Clinic, Internal Medicine Clinic, Perry Clinic, Wellsville Clinic, Montgomery Clinic, Auxvasse Clinic, Callaway Health Clinic, Orthopedic Clinic and Women’s Health Clinic.

Hospital officials also provided an update Tuesday morning:

Hospital leadership is committed to working through these difficulties and is incredibly grateful for the community’s patience and support. Every decision is being made through the lens of patient well-being and safety – and the goal to keep it local.

Officials also provided more information on the IT issue it encountered:
A longstanding challenge with our electronic medical records system finally caught up with us and became untenable. The transition timeframe imposed on Noble Health meant the system was never installed correctly. It led to billing cycle issues and significant cash flow challenges.

Diverting services and halting admissions so we can fix these challenges was a tough call for leadership to make but the best solution for patients.

In a proactive step, the hospital is hosting employee meetings every Tuesday and Thursday to keep them informed. Additionally, they’ve hired national experts to help get Noble back on its feet.

“This is tough and we certainly wish we weren’t in this situation,” said Amy O’Brien, CEO of Audrain Community Hospital. “But we’re committed to do everything we can to fix our issues and put together a plan that will help us re-emerge better able to serve the area.”