St. Louis-based SSM Health Care will soon own and operate Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Mo., along with its nine MedChoice rural clinics. The Catholic not-for-profit health system signed an agreement with the 49-bed acute-care hospital that goes into effect April 1.

“Bringing Audrain Medical Center and MedChoice into the SSM Health Care system will allow us to enhance our healthcare ministry to better serve the people of mid-Missouri,” William Thompson, president and CEO of SSM Health Care, said in a release.

SSM, which has hospitals in four states—Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois—also announced the formation of a mid-Missouri region. The region is to include Audrain Medical Center, its rural clinics and the geographically proximate St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, Mo. Brent VanConia, president of SSM's St. Mary's Health Center, will serve as interim president of the region.

Further details of the agreement, including financial disclosures, were not shared.

Audrain Medical Center reported an operating loss of $3.81 million in 2011 on $56.02 million of operating revenue. SSM Health Care's 2011 tax return showed $38.54 million in operating income and $3.13 billion in operating revenue.

Though specifics have not been determined, SSM will rename Audrain in order to reflect the medical center's new affiliation with the health network.