Ascension St. John Nowata (Okla.) received approval from CMS Sept. 2 to transition to a rural emergency hospital, effective immediately.
Under the REH designation, the hospital will continue to offer 24/7 emergency care and outpatient care like radiology and laboratory services, according to a news release shared with Becker’s.
“The REH status allows us to better align our resources with the healthcare needs of the community,” Tanner Holt, president of Ascension St. John Nowata, said in the release. “This means that emergency services will be available around the clock, while important outpatient services will continue to be offered.”
Patients in need of hospitalization will be stabilized and transferred to the closest and most appropriate hospital for acute and specialized inpatient care.
The designation is expected to minimally impact Ascension St. John Nowata employees, with the hospital remaining appropriately staffed to ensure 24/7 emergency care. The hospital has no plans to conduct layoffs or change staffing within radiology and laboratory services.
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