Statement from Bishop Ronald Gilmore regarding lawsuit 

I thank Attorney General Steve Six for bringing a lawsuit that seeks a temporary restraining order preventing Central Kansas Medical Center Leadership from taking any action that would result in the lapse of the Critical Access Hospital designation for Saint Joseph Memorial Hospital, Larned, KS.

Since I was informed by Catholic Health Initiatives of CKMC’s decision to close St. Joseph Hospital, I have attempted to use my good offices to ensure the continuance of emergency care in Pawnee County.  Unfortunately, these efforts seem to have had little effect.

I appreciate Attorney General Six’s action as a way of continuing to encourage CMKC and CHI to do what they can to ensure the accessibility to health care in Pawnee County.

The leadership of both CKMC and CHI are people of good will.  I know that they are making their decisions with the best of motives.  I know that CKMC wants to work with the Larned and Pawnee County communities to develop new approaches to providing health care in Pawnee County.  But in this present atmosphere, those plans have not been able to be fully explored.  

I hope this move on the part of our Attorney General will serve to encourage all parties to review their past decisions and come to decisions that truly serve the common good.