Labette County Hospitals

Sign Network Agreement

PARSONS, Kan., Nov 30, 2010. – Labette County’s two hospitals, Labette Health and Oswego Community Hospital, will be working together more closely in the future. Officials from both hospitals signed a network agreement today in Oswego Community Hospital’s Reflections meeting room.

Under the agreement, Labette Health will become a supporting hospital for Oswego Community Hospital, a 12-bed Critical Access Hospital with 24-hour emergency care as well as inpatient, laboratory and radiology services. Critical Access Hospitals are required to enter into networking agreements for patient referral and transfer, communications and emergency and non-emergency transport.

“We are pleased to enter into a network agreement with Labette Health. This is a milestone that will have many positive results,” said Oswego Community Hospital CEO Daniel Hiben. “In working closely together, this will put our hospitals in a better position in moving forward in the health care industry making sure the needs of our community are met. Some benefits in working together will be to increase quality initiatives, program and service enhancements, state initiatives, community focus, and local networking and resource sharing.”

A 109-bed regional medical center, Labette Health was the state’s first level III trauma center and operates the county-wide Emergency Medical Services, with ambulance crews based in Parsons and Oswego. Its medical staff of more than 40 physicians provides a wide range of family and specialty medical services.

“Although Labette Health operates without taxpayer subsidies, the hospital is owned by Labette County, and we have a responsibility to provide the best possible care for our citizens,” said Vince Schibi, president of Labette Health’s Board of Trustees. “We feel that we can best accomplish that goal by supporting and working alongside Oswego Community Hospital.”

“We’re excited by the opportunity to collaborate on improving care for the population of Labette County,” added Labette Health CEO Jodi Schmidt. “Both our facilities have a longstanding commitment to patient- and family-centered care and a history of service to the people of Labette County. In today’s changing healthcare environment, strong relationships between hospitals and other healthcare facilities will become increasingly important in providing cost-effective and efficient care to our patients.”

Vince Schibi, center, president of Labette Health's Board of Trustees, signs a network support agreement with officials of Oswego Community Hospital. Dan Hiben, left, is CEO of the Oswego hospital. Jim Shaffer, standing, and Larry Arthur, right, are chairman and CEO respectively of HMC/CAH Consolidated, Inc., which owns OCH.