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In early 1956, a call for help went out from Father Sylvester Bauer of West Plains. That call was answered by
eight religious Sisters who came to Mountain View on a medical mission to re-open our hospital and serve our
communities.

In 1959, the hospital was expanded to 25 beds to meet the growing needs of the community. Shortly after in
1961, St. Francis hospital became one of the first small hospitals to be accredited by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations; an honor it has held for 57 consecutive years.

In 1998, the Daughters of St. Francis entered into a co-sponsorship agreement with the Sisters of Mercy. The
two organizations were a natural match, growing to meet the primary care needs of Mountain View and the sur-
rounding communities with multiple expansions of services and facilities.

Today, Mercy St. Francis Hospital offers the caring touch of a hometown hospital with the advanced technology
of one of the nation’s Top 5 Healthcare Systems, a designation from IBM Watson Health. Whether you need an
emergency room in the middle of the night, imaging or therapy services, Mercy is there. Technology now makes
visits with specialists possible “virtually” so you don’t have to travel, and some patients even have special Mercy
equipment in their homes so their doctors can monitor their conditions daily.
With our feet firmly planted in our history and mission, and our minds open to the advances of the future, the
co-workers of Mercy St. Francis Hospital bring you compassionate care and exceptional service.