Many concerned Nowata citizens gather in the Nowata Middle School Gym to learn about Ascension St. John's proposal to transition their hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital. Those that gathered heard from three different speakers and had an opportunity to have their questions answered regarding the proposed change.

 

Nowata Citizen Will Maddux says they deserve to understand the change.  The biggest change with the transition proposed by Ascension to the Oklahoma Department of Health is the drop of inpatient services, which includes the elimination of swing beds. Nowata Family Medicine Dr. David Caughell says swing beds are designed to switch patients from acute inpatient care to skilled nursing.

 

Those admitted to an REH would only be allowed to stay for up to 24 hours before being transported to another location. According to Ascension, patients in Nowata would be sent to either Bartlesville or Owasso's Ascension hospitals. As a result of the proposed change, a petition of over 1,000 signatures will be sent to state and federal officials in hopes of modifying the REH program. Nowata Citizen Kim Owen called for unity and says people need to sign the petition.

 

Ascension St. John released a statement once the proposed reclassification was submitted. The OSDH has not made a decision on the application.