Daviess Community Hospital leaders say a new management services agreement with Deaconess Health System will strengthen care close to home while keeping local control in place.

Deaconess CEO Shawn McCoy and DCH CEO Justin Harris met with the Washington hospital staff during town hall sessions Wednesday to outline what the agreement means for patients, employees, and the community.

Harris said the partnership brings more specialty care connections, a transition to the Epic electronic health record in 2026, and operational support from Deaconess — but emphasized that DCH remains locally owned and governed.

He told staff, “Management is not ownership. The Board of Governors retains local control, and our mission remains the same: delivering the right care, in the right place, close to home.”

Hospital employees also heard about expanded in-network options for their own health plans and were assured that the DCH name, identity, and commitment to the community will not change.

Updates will continue as planning moves forward into 2026.