Jordan Ellis
Fort Scott, Kansas, is a small rural town with a population of around 7,500-7,800 people. In 2018, the town's hospital, Mercy Hospital, announced its closure, and in 2019, the hospital closed its doors, leaving the community without a local hospital or emergency room. This has resulted in a significant impact on the community, with residents now having to travel long distances to access healthcare and emergency services. The town has been coping with the loss of its hospital and exploring alternatives to meet the healthcare needs of its residents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital | Mercy Hospital Fort Scott |
| Location | Fort Scott, Kansas |
| Year of closure | 2018-2019 |
| Population of Fort Scott | 7,550-7,800 |
| Distance to the nearest hospital | 25-40 minutes |
| Distance to the nearest emergency center | 20 miles |
| Impact of closure | Loss of emergency services, increased travel time for medical care, concerns about community growth and attracting new residents and businesses |
| Efforts to mitigate impact | Local and regional collaboration to patch together a new system, Ascension Via Christi providing emergency room services |
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What You'll Learn
Fort Scott, KS, loses its emergency department
The small rural town of Fort Scott, Kansas, is facing a crisis as it loses its emergency department. The town, with a population of around 7,500-7,800, has already endured the closure of its local hospital, Mercy Hospital, back in 2018-2019. Now, the community is once again reeling from the loss of emergency services, as the stand-alone ER closed down, forcing residents to travel at least 20-40 miles to the nearest emergency centre.
The impact of this loss is profound, with residents expressing fears about access to timely healthcare and the potential consequences of extended travel times in emergency situations. Mayor Matthew Wells shared a somber reflection on the previous period without an ER, recalling how people lost their lives due to treatable injuries. The loss of emergency services also raises concerns about the community's ability to attract new residents and businesses, threatening its growth and prosperity.
In response to this crisis, local officials are working tirelessly to bring in a new healthcare provider. They are facing significant challenges, including regulatory hurdles and the eligibility criteria for critical access designations, which could increase Medicare reimbursements. The city and county have pledged a $1.5 million subsidy to attract a provider, and there is hope that healthcare will return to Fort Scott.
The situation in Fort Scott is not an isolated incident, as rural hospital closures are affecting communities across the United States. The closure of rural hospitals leaves residents vulnerable, and in Fort Scott, the loss of the hospital and subsequent loss of the emergency department have highlighted the importance of access to local healthcare services. While the community adapts to the new reality, there is a collective effort to address the challenges and find solutions to ensure the well-being of the town and its residents.
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Mercy Hospital closed in 2018/2019
Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas, closed in 2018. The hospital had been struggling financially for years, and in 2018, it was announced that the hospital would be merging with three other safety net hospitals on the South Side: St. Bernard in Englewood, Advocate Trinity in Calumet Heights, and South Shore. The plan was to close the hospitals and build at least one new modern hospital, along with several outpatient clinics. However, the merger fell through when the hospitals were unable to secure the funding they needed from the state.
In the meantime, Mercy Hospital continued to struggle, and in 2019, it was announced that the hospital would be closing. Despite protests from the community and efforts to save the hospital, Mercy closed its doors in 2019. The closure of the hospital left the community without a local option for healthcare, and patients had to travel to other towns for appointments and deliveries.
The impact of the hospital's closure was felt immediately, with a rush of ambulances forced to steer clear of Mercy and make their way to other hospitals. U of C, a highly specialized trauma center, received the most patients from the three ambulances stationed in fire houses from Chinatown to Bronzeville, with nearly 2,100 transports compared to around 600 in 2019 during the same months.
The closure of Mercy Hospital also had a significant impact on the community. For example, Dr. Max Self, a family doctor in Fort Scott for over 20 years, noticed that patients couldn't get appointments as quickly as they used to. Self eventually moved to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, which offered a higher level of government reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid patients than Mercy did.
While the loss of Mercy Hospital was difficult for the community, some, like City Manager Dave Martin, realized that the town didn't necessarily need a hospital to stay healthy. Fort Scott residents could still receive care at other facilities, and Martin believed that they would be taken care of, even if they had to travel a bit farther for hospitalization.
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The impact on the community and residents
The impact of the hospital's closure on the Fort Scott community and its residents has been significant. The town, with a population of around 7,500 to 7,800 people, has lost a vital health care resource that they depended on for over a century. The closure has led to increased travel times to access medical services, with residents now having to drive between 20 to 40 minutes to the nearest hospital, which is located across the state line in Nevada, Missouri, or to Pittsburg, Kansas, which is a more than 40-minute drive. This has raised concerns about the timely delivery of emergency medical care, with residents and officials worried about the potential loss of lives that could have been saved with easier access to an emergency room.
The closure of the hospital has also had economic implications for the community, with residents worried about attracting new residents and businesses. Additionally, the hospital's closure resulted in job losses for some of its employees, impacting the livelihoods of those individuals and their families. The community is also concerned about the potential impact on the growth and development of Fort Scott, with residents urging their neighbors to contact lawmakers and take action to address the challenges posed by the lack of a local hospital.
Despite the challenges, there have been some positive developments. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, a federally qualified health center, has taken on some of the patient load and offers a higher level of government reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Ascension Via Christi, a non-profit Catholic health system, stepped in to provide emergency room services after Mercy Hospital's closure, and about 90% of Mercy's employees were able to keep their jobs.
Some residents, like Crystal Metcalf, who relied on the local hospital for treatment of her gynecological disorders, now face longer travel times to access the healthcare they need. Others have expressed concerns about the impact on expectant mothers, with doctors sending patients out of town to give birth, and residents worrying about the potential for infant mortality. Overall, the loss of the hospital has forced the community to adapt and seek alternative solutions, with residents and officials working together to address the gap in local healthcare services.
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The future of healthcare in Fort Scott
The history of healthcare in Fort Scott has been challenging in recent years. The closure of Mercy Hospital in 2018-2019 was a significant blow to the community, leaving residents without a local option for hospital care. This closure was particularly impactful as the hospital had served the town for over a century. In the aftermath, Fort Scott residents had to adapt to a new reality of seeking healthcare outside their community.
Despite the loss of its hospital, Fort Scott has shown resilience in trying to meet the healthcare needs of its residents. Local and regional efforts were made to patch together a new system. Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), a provider based in Pittsburg, stepped in to offer primary care services in the main hospital building and nearby clinics. Ascension Via Christi, the state's largest healthcare organization, filled the gap by operating a 24-hour emergency room. These solutions ensured that many residents could continue seeing their same doctors, and most of Mercy's employees kept their jobs.
However, the recent loss of emergency services in Fort Scott has once again left the community vulnerable. Residents now face travel times of up to 40 minutes to reach the nearest emergency center, and there are concerns about the impact on attracting new residents and businesses. Local officials are working to bring in a new provider, with Amberwell being a potential candidate, but regulatory hurdles and funding issues present significant challenges.
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The role of Ascension Via Christi in providing emergency services
The rural town of Fort Scott, Kansas, lost its hospital in December 2018, when Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed its doors after 132 years of service. The hospital's closure left the town's 7,800 residents without easy access to emergency medical care.
Ascension Via Christi, a Catholic health ministry, has played a crucial role in providing emergency services to the community of Fort Scott following the hospital's closure. Ascension's nearby Pittsburg hospital has stepped up to fill the gap, with its ER staff delivering babies for expectant mothers who couldn't make the longer journey to other hospitals.
Ascension Via Christi's mission is rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as a healer, with a commitment to serving all persons, especially the poor and vulnerable. Their values include generosity of spirit, respect and compassion for the dignity and diversity of life, and inspiring trust through personal leadership. They aim to transform healthcare by providing spiritually centered, holistic care that sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities.
In addition to the support provided by Ascension Via Christi, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has also played a vital role in serving the residents of Fort Scott. The center, as a federally qualified health center, receives a higher level of government reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid patients than Mercy Hospital did. This allows the center to offer more accessible and affordable care to the community.
While the loss of Mercy Hospital was undoubtedly a challenge for the town, the residents of Fort Scott have adapted to the new reality. With the support of dedicated healthcare organizations like Ascension Via Christi and the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, the community has access to essential emergency services and continues to thrive.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Fort Scott, KS lost its hospital in 2018/2019.
The hospital was called Mercy Hospital.
The hospital closed due to a combination of low patient volume, staffing issues, and inadequate Medicare reimbursements. Mercy Hospital also fell outside of eligibility for federal designation as a "critical access hospital".
Since the closure, Fort Scott residents have had to travel further for medical care, with the closest hospitals being around a 30-minute drive away. Local officials are working to bring in a new healthcare provider, but regulatory and financial hurdles have made this challenging.
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