Office of U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D.
MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. — U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. visited Mercy Hospital in Moundridge on Tuesday to learn about its transition to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Mercy Hospital is only the second hospital in Kansas to move to the REH model since the federal designation was created in 2021 and state regulations were finalized in 2023. Mercy Hospital administrator Aaron Herbel provided a tour of the facility to showcase the medical services that will remain to serve its patients and discuss the financial benefits of the new designation.
Mercy Hospital’s designation as a REH, effective Jan. 1, 2023, was a strategic move by the hospital board and administrative team to provide financial stability and ensure a continued presence in the community. Under the new designation, the hospital will provide 24/7 emergency medical care, laboratory testing, physical therapy, radiology, outpatient surgery, clinic services, observation services, and other outpatient services.
“I am pleased to see that Mercy Hospital has taken the initiative to transition to the new Rural Emergency Hospital model,” said Senator Marshall. “Hospital leadership was thoughtful in its consideration of the impacts of the changes but ultimately understood this new designation would provide long-term financial security. This new designation creates a more cost-effective alternative and ensures that patients will continue to have immediate access to quality care in their community.”
Mercy Hospital CEO Aaron Herbel highlighted the positive changes under the REH model, saying, “We are excited about the new services we will be able to bring to the community like a walk-in care clinic, non-emergent transportation, access to additional specialty services, and potentially home health services.”
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