Mercy Medical Center takes over Dallas County, IA, hospital

Perry, IA-based Dallas County Hospital, which was managed for years by executives from Iowa Health-Des Moines, is now being run by Mercy Medical Center. Iowa Health had managed the public hospital since the 1980s, but withdrew from the contract because of undisclosed disagreements with the hospital's board. Iowa Health and Mercy dominate the healthcare market in central Iowa. They own all five of Des Moines' private hospitals, and provide management services for several smaller, rural hospitals.