The 25-bed Cox Barton County Hospital opened in its current 64,000-square-foot facility in 2007 and joined the Springfield, Mo.-based CoxHealth system in 2018. The critical access hospital offers primary care, emergency and walk-in care, and specialized services across cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, pulmonology, rheumatology, surgery, women’s health and more. The hospital has earned national distinction as one of the “Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals” in the nation for overall performance by the National Rural Health Association in 2026. Cox Barton County Hospital holds level 3 stroke center designation, which is the highest achievable level for a 25-bed critical access hospital, and has received multiple American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines” achievement awards for its commitment to evidence-based cardiovascular and stroke care. The hospital also received two Press Ganey Human Experience Awards for outstanding performance in ambulatory surgery services, including both the “Pinnacle of Excellence Award” and the “Guardian of Excellence Award”. Diagnostic capabilities include a 64-slice CT scanner and 3D mammography with bone density testing, bringing advanced imaging technology to rural southwest Missouri. As part of CoxHealth, the hospital supports the system’s priority of expanding healthcare access throughout the Ozarks, particularly for rural communities in the region.
