The University of Kansas Health System has completed the purchase of Great Bend Regional Hospital and its affiliated clinics, including Central Kansas Family Practice and Heartland Regional, and to celebrate the occasion, a dedication with a “ribbon tying” was held on Thursday.
“We are excited to be here today, welcoming the hospital and clinic into the University of Kansas Health System,” Senior Vice President of The University of Kansas Health System Brenda Dykstra said. “ We have an opportunity to combine services at the hospitals in Great Bend. This is very important to this community. It provides a sustainable model of health care and allows for expanding services and allows us to focus on the patient and the community.”
According to University of Kansas Health System, Great Bend Regional Hospital became part of The University of Kansas Health System, which includes The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, HaysMed in Hays, St. Rose Health Center in Great Bend, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned and The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka (in partnership with Ardent Health Services). Great Bend Regional Hospital was renamed The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus.
HaysMed, St. Rose, Great Bend Regional and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital have historically competed for patients and market share. Now they will be part of one system, with complementary services and providers, not competing but collaborating, focusing together on the needs of the community, she said.
“Our mission is to provide the highest quality care to Kansans. As health care across the country evolves, we are taking a new approach in Kansas. Our health system providers in Great Bend, Hays, Larned, Topeka and throughout the Kansas City metro area are keeping care close to home while expanding access to the most advanced treatment options only an academic medical center can provide,” President and Chief Executive Officer of The University of Kansas Health System Bob Page said. “Together, we can ensure people in Great Bend and across the state of Kansas have access to the right level of care, delivered in the most effective way.”
The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus will remain a strong employer and health-care provider for the Great Bend community as a result of this purchase, officials said. Great Bend physicians, nurses and staff will be important additions to the health system, with substantially all the current workforce remaining in place.
Patients will continue to receive care from their current doctors and practices. Moving forward, The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus will be led by local management, and The University of Kansas Health System will establish a local board for the hospital and clinics.
“We plan on improving and expanding patient care at the hospital,” Dykstra said. “One thing we already started doing was eliminating some of the duplicate services between the Great Bend Hospital and St. Rose.”
