History

From humble beginnings in the late 19th century to being recognized as a regional and national healthcare leader today, Saint Francis Medical Center has a rich history of healing throughout Southeast Missouri and neighboring states.

It started in 1875 when God guided Saint Francis' founding Franciscan Sisters (Philimena, Engelberta and Felicitas) along the Mississippi River to the banks of Cape Girardeau, Mo. Renting a two-story house that accommodated 12 patients, the Sisters planted the seeds of hope and healing as they cared for the ill and injured. As decades passed, the Sisters' healing roots grew deeper into the community and beyond.

Today, Saint Francis is a growing 258-bed regional tertiary care referral center that serves patients throughout a five-state region. Major healthcare services offered by the Medical Center include neurosciences, orthopaedics, obstetrics and neonatology, cardiology, trauma and emergency, and cancer care. Saint Francis continues to be recognized for leading-edge treatment, advanced technology and compassionate care.