FRONTENAC — Freeman Health System is abandoning plans to construct a new hospital in Frontenac, the company announced Wednesday, seven months after ground had been broken for the proposed facility.
A feasibility study ordered in May of this year, not long after the March ground-breaking, revealed “significant challenges,” the Pittsburg Morning Sun reported, citing a Freeman news release.
The news release cited several factors, “including the unpredictable impact of pending legislation such as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and evolving challenges in rural healthcare,” the newspaper reported. “These variables, unknown at the start of the process, contributed to the final decision.”
“The conditions that existed two years ago no longer reflect the current reality,” said Matt Fry, who was appointed Freeman’s president and chief executive officer in April.
The 130,000 square foot hospital would have provided a variety of medical services including emergency, oncology, intensive care, in- and out-patient surgery, sports medicine, behavioral health, medical education and many other services, the newspaper reported.
According to the release, Freeman was initially approached by community leaders in Southeast Kansas due to a gap in quality healthcare services.
“Since that time, other organizations, including Freeman Health System, have stepped in and successfully filled that gap, significantly changing the healthcare landscape in the region,” the release said.
Last month, Freeman opened a hospital in Fort Scott with a six-bed 24/7 emergency department and a 10-bed acute care unit. Fort Scott had been without a hospital since Mercy closed its hospital in 2018.
“While we’re disappointed, I want to be clear: this was not a reflection of Frontenac’s infrastructure, readiness, or performance as a working partner,” Frontenac Mayor Steve Morrison said, according to the Morning Sun. “From day one, our city worked closely with Freeman and their contractors, providing full support and cooperation throughout.
“Should Freeman — or any organization — choose to expand into Southeast Kansas in the future, Frontenac is here,” Morrison said. We welcome all suitors looking for a great place to call home.”
Crawford County Commissioner Tom Moody wasn’t as diplomatic, relating to the newspaper a phone conversation in which he told Fry, “I find it kinda fishy that you made this decision after the dog-and-pony show put on at the groundbreaking.”
