County officials and partners say hospital services will return; commissioners credited for keeping ER open

Rob Harrington told the Bourbon County Commission on June 17 that a series of county decisions and partnerships preserved local emergency and behavioral health capacity and created the conditions for Freeman Healthcare to commit to reopening a hospital-level facility in Bourbon County.

Harrington outlined actions beginning in mid-2022, saying the county worked with Legacy Health and, at times, waived lease obligations so the emergency room could remain open while the county negotiated with multiple potential partners. He said those steps — including negotiations that allowed the county to regain control of property and a helipad — were necessary to keep emergency services running while longer-term partners were sought.

“Without all the things that we did, Thursday wouldn’t have happened, period,” Harrington said, summarizing years of negotiations and emergency interventions. He thanked commissioners who participated in those negotiations and credited a local partner, Kansas Renewal Institute (KRI), for helping secure clinical and staffing capacity.

Harrington said Freeman Healthcare agreed to provide broader services and that, subject to licensing and federal review, officials expect doors to open in April 2025. He described ongoing work with the state fire marshal and with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on facility upgrades and licensing requirements.

Harrington also defended the county’s approach against social-media criticism, saying some community members had dismissed or publicly questioned earlier efforts to secure a partner. He urged critics who called officials liars on social platforms to acknowledge the work that preserved local services.

The commission did not vote on a new subsidy or contract at the June 17 meeting. Commissioners acknowledged the briefing and the need for continued work on licensing and building improvements. Rob Harrington’s remarks were presented as a factual account of negotiations and timelines; specific contract terms, subsidy amounts and final licensing dates were not provided at the meeting.