Ever since plans for Stormont-Vail’s new $30 million medical facility in Emporia — and proposed zoning text changes by Newman Regional Health to protect its own financial interests — came to light a month ago, both sides have mentioned the need for collaboration. And that stated goal continued after Newman Regional Health’s Board of Trustees meeting this week.
When asked whether there have been conversations between the two sides since the Planning Commission meeting Nov. 21 or any move towards mediation, Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple said the following:
In a statement, Stormont-Vail says it remains open to discussions with Newman Regional Health leadership. To that end, it has agreed to mediated discussions with Newman Regional as requested by Emporia city commissioners.
The Planning Commission is tentatively set to have more talks about the Newman Regional Health proposal at its Dec. 19 meeting. Board members tabled further conversations about the proposed text changes at their November meeting following over four hours of proposals and public comment.
Stormont-Vail Health has proposed a $30 million medical facility in Emporia. Stormont says it hasn’t finalized its line of services for that space, but Newman Regional Health has said the new building would duplicate many, if not all, of its profitable services — so Newman Regional Health offered some zoning code adjustments where outside medical entities would have to specify the services they plan to provide, the level of services already provided locally and information about how the current level of services isn’t sufficient for area patients for their projects to get Conditional Use Permits and then move towards construction.
Pimple’s comments to KVOE News followed the hospital Board of Trustees’ monthly meeting, which dealt in part with budget discussions for 2024 Pimple says the October inpatient budget was “neutral,” but revenue from outpatient services like cath lab and imaging were up 11 percent from September. Pimple says the board may have a special meeting in December to have more budget discussions.
