Cedar County Memorial Hospital Board Reviews Tech Partnerships, Service Expansion, and Strategic IT Upgrades
August 20, 2026 — The Cedar County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) Board of Trustees met Wednesday, August 19 to review financial performance, approve the annual property tax rate, and advance several projects aimed at expanding services for the community. All members were present.
The meeting began with an annual public hearing on the hospital’s proposed property tax rate provided by the state of Missouri of $0.1476, up slightly from last year’s rate of $0.1472. There was no public comment and the board approved the tax rate. With a 3% increase in the county’s assessed property value, 2026 tax revenue is projected to generate $382,772 to support hospital operations. This dollar amount equates to about 1.6% of the hospital’s average annual revenue.
The board also approved the purchase of a telemedicine cart to support stroke certification efforts, with certification targeted for completion between December 2026 and early 2027. This equipment will allow CCMH to provide faster, more coordinated stroke care for patients in the region.
Don Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer at CCMH reported the hospital’s first-round application for Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program funding was not selected. Leadership is preparing a second-round application, due September 1, aimed at securing funding to further support rural health initiatives.
CCMH is also transitioning its internal forms management system to a new platform, improving efficiency and reducing costs while enabling better integration with the hospital's electronic health record system.
These updates build on other recent milestones at CCMH, including the groundbreaking of the hospital's new MRI/CT project, opening of it’s Stockton facility for public and Cedar County Health Department use, expanded surgical services, and progress toward a TeleNeurology program anticipated to launch this fall.
Chief Financial Officer Carla Gilbert presented the July’s financial report noting total gross revenue reached $3,786,184, a 26% increase year-over-year. Net operating revenue was $1,883,829. Operating expenses totaled $2,041,357. The hospital’s monthly operating loss was $157,529, a 46% improvement over last July’s operating loss of $336,769. Net loss for the month totaled $121,818 compared to a loss of $298,510 in July 2025. Year-to-date, the hospital sits at a net loss of $1,390,115. Days Cash on Hand maintained last month’s balance at 122.
Chief Operations and Compliance Officer, Matthew Pruitt provided operational updates for projects including upcoming oncology services and diagnostic imaging suite construction. Progress remains on track for the oncology partnership with Main Street Health. The center is targeted to open within the hospital by the end of September, bringing specialized cancer treatment and infusion therapies to local residents.
Construction on the new diagnostic imaging suite will continue through December. Once complete, the dedicated space will eliminate the need for patients to go outside for MRI scans or navigate across the building for CT services, significantly improving patient convenience and access to critical radiology.
About Cedar County Memorial Hospital
Cedar County Memorial Hospital, located in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, has been serving Cedar County and the surrounding communities since 1960. With 10 acute care beds and a dedicated team of more than 130 healthcare professionals, the hospital provides a full range of services, including 24-hour emergency care, advanced diagnostic imaging (CT and MRI), clinical laboratory testing, surgicalMedia Contact:
Natalie EberhardMarketing Specialist
CCMH Marketing Dept
417.876.3745