As Newman Regional Health continues its push towards zoning code text changes in response to plans by Stormont Vail Health to construct a new medical facility in Emporia, the local hospital has received backing from one local governing body.
Thursday morning, Lyon County Commissioners approved signing a letter of support for the hospital’s proposed changes with Commission Chairman Rollie Martin saying the decision was made for two key reasons.
The commission’s decision came after Stormont-Vail President Dr. Robert Kenagy drafted a pair of letters, an open letter to the Emporia community and a letter directed to county commissioners. In the county letter, Kenagy stated “We strongly oppose any action of the Commission to sign a Letter of Support for the City of Emporia Zoning Text Changes, as noted on your Nov. 9, 2023, agenda under “Other Business.” We believe at the very least, you need a thorough understanding of the negative ramifications that the proposed zoning changes will impose upon the advancement of healthcare in the community.”
Kenagy concluded the letter by saying, “For the future of healthcare in Emporia and Lyon County, we strongly recommend that you not support this zoning change and that you serve as an example to your peers at the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and Emporia City Commission to not suppress future healthcare enhancement in Lyon County.” When asked his response Martin stated, “the future of healthcare in Lyon County will go through Newman Regional Health.”
Following the commission’s decision Thursday, Stormont-Vail issued a response expressing disappointment in that decision saying, “For the Lyon County Commission to take this action – without consideration of a $30 million investment in the community that Stormont Vail has proposed to enhance access to healthcare – is a breach of trust and responsibility to its constituents. Furthermore, the zoning change proposed by Newman to the Planning Commission and City of Emporia has legal concerns and deficiencies that are not in the best interest of the community or its taxpayers.”
Those “legal concerns” were the focus of a special meeting of the Newman Board of Trustees and legal counsel Thursday afternoon. Board President Luke Arndt says the meeting was meant to serve as an “update” on the situation for all board members and executive leadership, however, he could not divulge exactly what was discussed as those conversations took place in an executive session.
As it pertains to the proposed text changes, Arndt stated during an interview with KVOE News the proposal is not meant as a “block” for Stormont-Vail, but rather as a “safeguard” for Newman.
Arndt added that Newman has and continues to value its relationship with Stormont-Vail and all of its providers within Newman Hospital and the Emporia community.
When asked for a response to the letters sent out by Stormont in opposition and response to the county’s decision Thursday, Arndt declined to comment.
The Emporia Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will be reviewing the text changes when it convenes for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 21. Both letters from Kenagy and the response from Stormont Vail to the county’s decision are available below.
11:11 am Thursday: Stormont-Vail calls Lyon County Commission support letter for Newman Regional-requested zoning text changes ‘breach of trust and responsibility’
Before Lyon County commissioners approved a letter supporting Newman Regional Health’s zoning code text change request to the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and Emporia City Commission, Stormont-Vail Health formally asked county commissioners not to take that step as it pursues a freestanding medical facility in Emporia.
Afterward, Stormont-Vail expressed its disappointment in that step.
Stormont says Thursday’s vote, “without consideration of a $30 million investment” as proposed by the Topeka hospital, was “a breach of trust and responsibility” to county constituents. Stormont also says the text code changes as requested by Newman Regional Health have legal issues and “deficiencies” that don’t serve Emporia, Lyon County or taxpayers — and it says Newman Regional Health’s proposal “demonstrates an air of special accommodation and favoritism versus truly promoting the community’s needs,” adding the proposal “will have the effect of impeding, curtailing and stagnating the availability, advancement and enhancement” of local medical service.
County commissioners approved the letter of support as Newman Regional Health has asked for zoning code text changes to protect its interests from outside entities, Stormont-Vail included, pursuing medical services that duplicate services already provided at Newman Regional Health.
Stormont’s proposal, it says, would enhance access to high-quality primary and specialty care and state-of-the-art technology at no cost to the city, county or taxpayers. On KVOE’s Morning Show earlier this week, Regional Administrator Mary Martell said the proposed campus would resemble a facility Stormont opened in Manhattan this past summer, which includes primary care, specialty care, lab and imaging services.
9:30 am Thursday: Stormont-Vail CEO asks Lyon County Commission not to approve letter of support for zoning code text changes, writes open letter to Emporia residents
Before Lyon County commissioners approved a letter supporting Newman Regional Health’s zoning code text change request to the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and Emporia City Commission, Stormont-Vail Health formally asked county commissioners not to take that step as it pursues a freestanding medical facility in Emporia.
County commissioners are considering this step as Newman Regional Health has asked for zoning code text changes to protect its interests from outside entities, Stormont-Vail included, pursuing medical services that duplicate services already provided at Newman Regional Health.
Stormont-Vail President Dr. Robert Kenagy echoes comments made on KVOE’s Morning Show by Regional Administrator Mary Martell earlier this week in the Stormont investment would involve $30 million, adding the investment would enhance access to high-quality primary and specialty care and state-of-the-art technology at no cost to the city, county or taxpayers. Kenagy also says the County Commission’s “rush to support a misguided and overt effort be Newman Regional Hospital to suppress competition and economic development” has several legal concerns and unspecified “deficiencies,” so Stormont is drafting a letter for the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission outlining those issues.
Kenagy has also submitted an open letter to the Emporia area, saying Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple “is to be commended for her passion and energy but the the stance she has taken will prevent the community from moving forward with enhanced healthcare.”
Newman Regional Health, meanwhile, has said it stands to lose up to $7 million per year if Stormont’s medical facility duplicates services like cardiology, cath and gastrointestinal labs, orthopedics and endoscopy — some of the most profitable service lines for any hospital.
Stormont-Vail Health news release following Thursday’s Lyon County Commission vote
Stormont Vail Health and our Cotton O’Neil team in Emporia are extremely disappointed with the action of the Lyon County Commission this morning to support a move by Newman Regional Health to shut down other local healthcare organizations from expanding in the county.
Cotton O’Neil Clinic has operated in Emporia for nearly 30 years, supporting and collaborating with Newman Regional, with all of the Cotton O’Neil providers serving on its medical staff and being the largest tenant in its facility.
For the Lyon County Commission to take this action — without consideration of a $30 million investment in the community that Stormont Vail has proposed to enhance access to healthcare — is a breach of trust and responsibility to its constituents. Furthermore, the zoning change proposed by Newman to the Planning Commission and City of Emporia, has legal concerns and deficiencies that are not in the best interest of the community or its taxpayers.
Stormont Vail is opposed to the proposed text changes to the zoning regulations. The organization notes that recently the Commission essentially rewrote the zoning regulations and implemented the new version in September 2023. For the proposed text changes to surface at this time as Stormont Vail considers further investing in the community and enhancing healthcare, demonstrates an air of special accommodation and favoritism versus truly promoting the community’s needs, especially as the proposed changes will have the effect of impeding, curtailing and stagnating the availability, advancement and enhancement of healthcare and hospital services for the citizens of Emporia and the surrounding area.
Stormont Vail believes in a strong, viable community hospital and healthcare offerings in Emporia, and urges the public and local government officials to strongly consider further action to squelch access and advancement of healthcare in the community.
Open letter to Emporia from Stormont-Vail President/CEO Robert Kenagy
Stormont Vail Health is a local healthcare team, caring for 18,000 Emporia and Lyon County residents at our clinic in Emporia, contrary to what has been implied in the media. We have served Emporia since 1994 through our Emporia Cotton O’Neil Clinic.
In August, Stormont Vail was invited by Newman Regional Health leaders to meet to discuss our strategic plan. At that meeting, Stormont Vail presented a high level view of our intention to expand in Emporia to meet the needs of patients who live in Emporia and the region but have chosen to have their health care needs met in Topeka, Kansas City and
Wichita. Examples, from data available through the Kansas Hospital Association, include:
50% of Lyon County residents now leave the Emporia market for their outpatient surgeries and procedures.
5,000 imaging studies for Lyon County residents are conducted in healthcare facilities outside Emporia annually.
Stormont Vail Health has provided safe, high quality care in the Lyon County area through its Emporia Cotton O’Neil Clinic for nearly 30 years, and served Kansans with health care for well over a century. Our Emporia team of 85 skilled individuals provides primary and specialty healthcare services (OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Occupational Health, etc.), imaging including diagnostics and mammography, and lab services. Team members include physicians, advance practice
providers, nurses, radiology techs and lab professionals.
We collaborate with numerous healthcare peers across the region – physicians, clinics and community hospitals, including Newman Regional Health – to ensure patients receive appropriate care close to home.
While Stormont Vail’s Topeka hospital offers more advanced care than community or critical access hospitals with its trauma program, and intensive care units for infants, children and adults, our philosophy is that patients should receive their care close to their “home” community if services there are appropriate. Healthcare has evolved quickly to include new models of care and technology that allows more and more care to be delivered safely and conveniently outside the
hospital setting.
Our specialty care clinics – Cardiology, Cardio Electrophysiology, Endocrinology, Allergy, Nephrology, Orthopedics and more – not only have locations in Topeka, but many provide care to patients in outreach clinics in our locations, such as in Emporia, or in space provided by other healthcare organizations. This means the specialty provider is travelling to provide care in a setting that makes it more convenient and accessible to the patient.
Recognizing the changes in healthcare, Stormont Vail Health has positioned itself to give the best care possible across the region. We recently completed a new facility in Manhattan and at the request of the Junction City community stepped into support the clinic and hospital operations to keep healthcare viable and serving patients in that community. We have considered plans to expand in Emporia and met with representatives of Newman Regional Health to begin a dialogue. These plans have always included an environment within which exists a hospital that is financially sustainable.
Cathy Pimple, CEO of Newman Regional Health, is to be commended for her passion and energy but the stance she has taken will prevent the community from moving forward with enhanced healthcare. The zoning changes she is seeking will prevent Stormont Vail Health from moving forward with plans that include expanded services and economic development. The zoning changes will put a chill on any other healthcare organization wanting to invest in Emporia. We
strongly oppose the proposed zoning changes.
Stormont Vail has a track record of collaboration. Two examples are our 9-year membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, providing our patients and providers an opportunity to access another level of expertise for medical conditions through Mayo Clinic experts; and through our affiliation with Children’s Mercy for specialty services for children and adolescents.
Stormont Vail is committed to being a high quality, high performing healthcare organization. This is evident through many healthcare designations, including our fourth American Nursing Credentialing Center’s Magnet designation this fall, which is earned for excellence in nursing and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Patients and patient care are central to our focus. Stormont Vail is seeking to invest in the future of healthcare in Emporia by building a new facility where we can move our current services from poorly maintained and configured leased space in the Newman Regional Health building. Patients often heal better when they are close to home with the support of family and friends.
We remain open to discuss with Newman Regional Health our plans to expand healthcare in Emporia, and hope that the community and their respective governing bodies will welcome the enhanced services, convenience and economic development and partner with Stormont Vail Health to create a healthier tomorrow for Emporia.
Robert S. Kenagy, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Stormont Vail Health
