OCH expands into Oklahoma

Ozarks Community Hospital yesterday announced plans to expand via acquisition into Oklahoma.

The Springfield-based health care system penned a deal to purchase the Jay Family Medicine Clinic in the rural town of Jay, Oklahoma. On Jan. 1, the clinic will open as the OCH Jay Family Medicine Clinic led by Dr. Richard Tidwell. The terms of the deal were not disclosed in a news release.

“Changes in the health care industry made the future of our clinic uncertain,” Tidwell said in the release. “I know working with OCH will provide a solid future while allowing me the ability to focus on serving my current patients in Delaware County and continue providing services to those who need it most.”

The Jay clinic serves a population of nearly 2,500. Tidwell, a family physician, founded the center in 2004. OCH Chief Clinics Officer Bernadette Losh said the acquisition of the clinic brings to an end years of considering Oklahoma for expansion.

The OCH system serves patients in Springfield, Nixa, Carthage, Marshfield, Noel, Bolivar, Rogersville, Sparta, Mount Vernon and Gravette, Arkansas, according to the release.

In September, OCH officials announced plans to buy southwest Missouri clinic operator Elk River Health Services Inc. The deal, scheduled to close Jan. 1, will add rural clinics in the McDonald County towns of Anderson, Pineville, Goodman and Southwest City.

The health system in July closed its Springfield inpatient center, as well as its surgery and emergency departments, and laid off 200 as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services terminated its Medicare agreement.

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