Ascension St. John Nowata to Continue Serving Rural Oklahoma as a Rural Emergency Hospital

Ascension St. John Nowata announced today that it will continue serving patients in Nowata and surrounding rural communities as it transitions to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), ensuring continued access to essential emergency and outpatient healthcare services close to home. This designation, granted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is effective immediately.

As an REH, Ascension St. John Nowata will continue to offer many of the same services available today, ensuring rural Oklahomans have continued access to healthcare close to home.

Patients will continue to have access to:

• 24/7 emergency care

• Outpatient services, including radiology and laboratory services

"Ascension St. John Nowata will absolutely continue to serve Nowata and our surrounding communities," said Ascension St. John Nowata President Tanner Holt. "The REH status allows us to better align our resources with the healthcare needs of the community. This means that emergency services will be available around the clock, while important outpatient services will continue to be offered."

Patients who require hospitalization will be stabilized and transferred to the closest, most appropriate hospital for specialized and acute inpatient care.

The transition is expected to have minimal impact on Ascension St. John Nowata employees. The hospital will remain appropriately staffed to provide 24/7 emergency care to the community, and there are no planned changes to staffing within radiology and laboratory services. There are also no planned layoffs as part of the transition.

Through Ascension St. John's broader network of hospitals and providers, patients will continue to have access to specialized and acute care when they need it, while Ascension St. John Nowata remains an important local access point for emergency and outpatient healthcare services.

Our Commitment Continues

For 100 years, Ascension St. John has cared for patients and communities across Northeast Oklahoma. That commitment does not change with this designation.

Ascension St. John Nowata will continue serving the community and rural Oklahomans with essential healthcare services, supported by the strength and specialized resources of the Ascension St. John network.