Ascension St. John Nowata is transitioning to a Rural Emergency Hospital while continuing to provide emergency and outpatient care.

The designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes effect immediately.  The Nowata hospital will continue offering 24-hour emergency care, radiology, laboratory services and other outpatient care. Patients requiring hospitalization will be stabilized and transferred to an appropriate hospital for inpatient treatment.

Hospital President Tanner Holt says the new designation allows the facility to better align its resources with the community’s healthcare needs.  Ascension says no layoffs are planned, and staffing changes are expected to be minimal.