How Independence, Kansas, survived losing its hospital and what it means for endangered health care in rural Kansas


After losing its only hospital, finding a sustainable model to provide emergency care proved difficult. The city increased EMS resources and, after years of negotiation and fundraising, Labette Health opened the Independence Healthcare Center. The Center includes an emergency room, a helipad, and space to accommodate patients for up to 36 hours. Patients who need more extensive care are transferred to hospitals in other towns. The building also has a rural health clinic with services like radiology, a lab, and a cancer infusion center. The sites average 500 and 1,000 patients a month respectively.

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