Fulton (Mo.) Medical Center CEO Mike Reece has been fired as Noble Health Corp. takes over management of the facility, according to the Fulton Sun.
Kansas City, Mo.-based Noble Health assumed management of Fulton Medical Center Dec. 19 and "look[s] forward to working with staff and the community to make it as vibrant as possible," Noble Health President and CEO Tom Carter told the newspaper.
According to local TV station KOMU, a news release from Noble Health says Fulton Medical Center will be rebranded and that new services, such as physical therapy, infusion and dialysis will be introduced next year.
George Ross, a marketing consultant and former senior marketing director for EmpowerHMS, the hospital's former operator, confirmed to the Sun that Mr. Reece was fired Dec. 19.
Leawood, Kan.-based NueHealth, the hospital's current owner, and Mr. Reece could not immediately be reached for comment by the newspaper.
Fulton Medical Center was facing closure in September 2017, but Kansas City, Mo.-based EmpowerHMS contracted with NueHealth to manage the hospital shortly before the expected closure. That agreement ended early this year when EmpowerHMS encountered financial challenges and was ousted as the hospital's operator.
In October, Mr. Reece revealed the hospital owes the IRS $3 million and was again in danger of closing. But later that month, Mr. Reece expressed optimism about the future of the hospital and its ability to pay back debt.
Mr. Carter told the Sun that the deal for Noble Health to take over management of Fulton Medical Center was reached recently, and that the hospital's IRS debt is being considered.
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