Monroe Hospital's deal with St. Vincent still in early stages

“At this point that’s an impossible question to answer,” said Joe Roche, regional president for St. Vincent Health’s Southern Indiana region and CEO of Monroe Hospital. “I certainly believe as St. Vincent looks at the entire state it sees Bloomington as a vibrant and dynamic environment for people who need health care, and we may ultimately decide there is room for St. Vincent in the Bloomington marketplace.”

The four-year agreement forged in September calls for St. Vincent, a 22-hospital health system, to manage the private hospital’s finances, physician relations and quality and safety efforts. St. Vincent also has signed an option that would allow it to buy the hospital.