Bishop Gilmore responds to decision to close hospital

Read the full article from the Southwest Kansas Register (click and scroll down).

“I am sad for the people who are patients,” said Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore. “I am sad for the residents in long-term care.  I am sad for the community.”
Bishop Gilmore was informed of the closure the day before it was announced.  After being informed, the bishop and his staff sought clarification from CHI and CKMC regarding their plans for health care, especially emergency care, in Pawnee County.  
“I and my staff have been in contact with CHI,” Bishop Gilmore said. “While I have a healthy respect for the process that CHI used to come to the decision, I am disappointed that it appears to be not possible for CHI to gift the Larned Hospital facility with its critical access license to the Pawnee County Community.  That was my hope and recommendation.  But there appears to be a number of legal, regulatory, ethical and other considerations that CHI sees as making such a move not permitted.”    
Bishop Gilmore expressed his hope that if the Larned and Pawnee County community is unable to secure the hospital with its critical care license, then CKMC and the Pawnee County community would be able to work out a plan that could provide a much-enhanced clinic and ample emergency care.  
“I continue to hold in my prayer all the players in this sad situation that exemplifies the complexities and challenges of rural health care, and I remain active in seeking to support in ways that I can the best for health care in all parts of our diocese,” Bishop Gilmore said.