After an open letter to the Emporia community from Stormont-Vail President Robert Kenagy earlier this week, Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple has written one of her own as the battle over a possible new medical facility and proposed zoning changes continues to heat up.
Pimple says Newman Regional’s proposed zoning text changes, which would force outside medical providers to explicitly state their plans for new facilities, list the services already provided locally and specify how those services don’t meet community needs, are designed to “slow proposals for licensed medical facilities and require such a facility to justify its need.” Pimple says the text change idea, now in from the the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission for consideration and possible recommendation to the Emporia City Commission for final approval, elevated local control as a best-interest step for Lyon County residents.
Pimple says Newman Regional is “in our greatest season” because of all the medical providers and staff at the hospital — but she has said Stormont plans to build a facility that would double up certain profitable services already offered at Newman Regional Health. In Thursday’s open letter, Pimple said the idea of developing “competing services…already offered and choose only the profitable sectors” undercuts the community hospital business model.
Pimple closed her letter saying Newman Regional Health has been locally governed for over a century and continuing local control is the best idea for the community.
For its part, Stormont has said its list of services for a potential $30 million facility in Emporia is still pending. In a separate communication to its partners, Stormont expanded on its claims its leased space at Newman Regional Health is inadequate for its needs, saying two elevators weren’t working Thursday. Newman Regional Health Director of Business Development Steven Bazan says they were offline for two hours.
Stormont also says a “more appropriate, state-of-the-art facility” can meet the needs of patients currently leaving Lyon County for care.
Both sides say they are open to further conversations with the Planning Commission meeting set for 5 pm Nov. 21 at the Municipal Court Room.
Letter to the Emporia community from Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple
More than 100 years ago, Newman Regional Health was established as a community hospital through the efforts of both local residents and the business community. Since the very beginning, Newman Regional Health has provided our patients with quality care, state-of-the-art technology, and a comprehensive delivery model. In the last 18 months, we have welcomed 8 new physicians to work and live in our community. We are growing, and we are Here for All.
On Thursday, November 9th, our county commissioners approved a letter supporting our application for zoning text change. On behalf of the staff, administration, and board of Directors of Newman Regional Health, I would like to extend our gratitude for their continued support of our strong, progressive, and dedicated community hospital.
The text change that we are proposing is designed to slow proposals for licensed medical facilities and require such a facility to justify its need before a locally elected board. We are elevating our local control with this recommendation, and we believe it to be in the best interest of the health and safety of Lyon County.
Newman Regional Health is in our greatest season because of ALL of the medical providers and staff from Newman, Stormont Vail, and independent practices. We honor all staff members who care for our community. Rural community hospitals are unique to each community from a financial, free market, and mission-centered perspective. Newman Regional Health is one of Lyon County’s largest employers and is central to the health and well-being of our citizens. When retirees or young families are choosing a community to live in, healthcare is a top priority. Along with education and a strong city government, healthcare is a central pillar to its community.
In addition to their vital economic importance, hospitals are also an enormous social safety net for so many people who otherwise cannot access health care. This is the mission side of our responsibility to our community. Our ability to care for ALL is only made possible through the profitability that comes from services such as imaging, surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, and other elective procedures. This is all part of what it means to be a Community Hospital, and why balancing these economics is vital to sustain our essential services.
When another healthcare organization seeks to enter a rural community to develop competing services that are already offered and choose only the profitable sectors the results undermine the business model of a Community Hospital. I invite you to Google the phrase “saving rural hospitals” and begin to read. Newman Regional Health has been led by our local governance for over 100 years, and maintaining local control is in the best interest of every community member.
Sincerely,
Cathy Pimple MS, DNP, NE-BC
Graphic courtesy Newman Regional Health
