Two SSM Health locations in Callaway County will close over the next month as part of an "effort to ensure the viability of our medical ministry in Mid-Missouri," SSM announced Wednesday.
The nonprofit Catholic health care provider is closing a number of clinics and pharmacies in Mid-Missouri, including the Fulton Family Medicine clinic (350 Country Meadows Lane in Fulton) and SSM Health Pharmacy in Holts Summit (140 Northstar Drive).
The Fulton clinic will close April 30 and the Holts Summit pharmacy at the end of May. The Fulton clinic stopped providing walk-in services early in April, citing "recent provider departures."
"We have sincere appreciation for the excellent care and dedication that Dr. Kimetha Fairchild has provided to our patients over the past several years, and we wish her the best in her retirement," said Tonya Pehle, vice president of operations for SSM Health Medical Group, in an early April news release.
According to SSM, existing patients will be assisted in transferring their care to another SSM location or elsewhere, as needed. SSM's other Callaway County clinic locations, in Holts Summit and Auxvasse, remain open at this time.
"These closings are unfortunate but necessary to improve operational efficiency and protect the overall health of our organization so that we may continue to provide exceptional service to our communities," SSM wrote.
A representative with MU Health Care reached out to clarify MU Health Care's Family Medicine-Fulton Family Health and the Family Medicine-Callaway Physicians clinics are open and taking new patients.
"Some of our patients have contacted us thinking our clinics were closing, so there's certainly some confusion out there," said Eric Maze, MU Health Care communications strategist.
Other SSM locations slated for closure include Vandalia Family Medicine Clinic on May 29, Jefferson City Occupational Medicine Clinic in late August, the Tipton pharmacy on April 30 and Versailles Family Medicine Clinic in mid-September.
"We are making every attempt to find other roles for our affected employees within the organization," SSM Health officials said in the news release.