About 20 years after entering the healthcare market in Houston, Mercy is preparing to exit, it said Tuesday afternoon.
Mercy said it worked closely with Matthew Brown, MD, and Patricia Benoist, MD, physicians at the clinic, throughout the process as it contemplated the closing.
Mercy said the physicians will continue practicing in the community, and it will assist them in making a smooth transition. Both are in talks with Texas County Memorial Hospital. Mercy said patients can expect to continue to see Drs. Brown and Benoist with no disruption in their care, and it will be in touch with additional information about any changes in location or contact information and the transfer of patient records.
A closing date is targeted for mid-November, pending necessary notifications and legal requirements.
“Mercy has a long history of serving the Houston community and we have been privileged to do so,” said Jenine Vincent, Mercy vice president and regional administrator. “Given the Houston clinic’s proximity to other Mercy services, especially specialty and hospital care, we feel we can continue to serve our patients from those locations.”
In addition, the community continues to have ample healthcare resources through Texas County Memorial Hospital and other local physicians, Mercy said in a written statement.
Mercy co-workers employed in the 7,000 square foot clinic will have the option to explore other positions in nearby Mercy Clinic locations or remain with Drs. Brown and Benoist in their practices.
Patients who wish to remain with Mercy can search for nearby Mercy Clinic physicians through its website, www.mercy.net.
“Drs. Brown and Benoist are exceptional caregivers, and we honor the decision of patients to remain with them as they transition to a new practice. But we also would be delighted to continue to serve patients who wish to transfer their care to another Mercy Clinic physician,” Vincent said.
Mercy also operates a clinic at Summersville in southeast Texas County and has locations at Willow Springs and Mountain Grove. Mercy St. Francis at Mountain View is one of 44 hospitals operated by Mercy across four states.
St. John’s Health System Inc. purchased the property in 1998 and later constructed the clinic after operating Southwest Missouri Family Healthcare just north of the property in quarters rented from Texas County Memorial Hospital. The clinic opened in November of that year.
News that Mercy was thinking about closing the clinic surfaced more than a year ago.