Mercy ousts top local exec

Craig McCoy, president of Mercy Springfield Communities for the length of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been ousted from the health care system.

A statement provided by Mercy spokesperson Sonya Kullmann confirmed McCoy's exit late yesterday.

"Mercy has implemented a new leadership structure in the Springfield area. With those changes, David Argueta and Dr. Brad Wyrsch, respectively, lead hospital and clinic operations for Mercy Springfield Communities," the statement reads. "As a result, Craig McCoy is no longer with Mercy and his position will not be filled."

McCoy could not be reached for comment by deadline.

In January 2020, he joined Mercy amid a period of other high-profile exits that have continued at the health system.

The organization in May 2020 announced that Jon Swope, former Mercy Springfield Communities and Mercy Central Region leader, was retiring early to help the health care system "navigate the difficult financial terrain ahead" as the pandemic began to take hold. At the same time, Dr. Fred McQueary, chief clinical officer for the health care system, also retired early, according to past reporting. Before his exit, Swope briefly served as McCoy's supervisor.

Swope had served in the Mercy Springfield Communities role on an interim basis since fall 2017, when Dr. Alan Scarrow was ousted from his leadership role, according to past reporting. Scarrow continues to work for Mercy as a neurosurgeon, according to the organization's website.

Recent hire Argueta, who is taking over part of McCoy's leadership functions, according to the statement, in May became Mercy Hospitals Springfield president, a role previously held by Brent Hubbard. The latter health care leader exited in April for a job with a hospital system in Oklahoma City.

Earlier this year, another local Mercy executive, Chief Administrative Officer Erik Frederick, also left the organization.

Dr. Wyrsch, the other leader named in the Mercy statement about McCoy’s departure, is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated from the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, according to the health care system's website.

During McCoy's tenure, Mercy responded to the strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that erupted shortly after he was appointed to the leadership role.

Mercy in summer 2021 became the first health care system in southwest Missouri to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees.

Prior to joining Mercy, Greenville, South Carolina, native McCoy worked as CEO of Bon Secours Mercy Health in his home state. McCoy's position at Bon Secours was eliminated amid a merger, according to past reporting.

McCoy is one of Springfield Business Journal’s honorees for the upcoming Men of the Year event next month. Last year, he was named top administrator in SBJ’s Health Care Champions awards, and he was a guest in 2021 for SBJ’s 12 People You Need to Know live interview series.

He’s also taken an active role in the Springfield community, serving on the boards of Arvest Bank, Integrity Home Care & Hospice and Lost and Found Grief Center, as well as the SBJ Editorial Advisory Board.