Fort Scott to regain 24/7 emergency care with Freeman Health System partnership

FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Bourbon County commissioners agree with Freeman Health System to bring back 24/7 emergency room and acute care to Fort Scott.

Voters passed a sales tax increase in May of this year to fund Freeman Fort Scott Hospital's emergency room for five years. That tax is expected to generate $750,000.

Earlier this month, county commissioners voted to give the hospital an additional five hundred thousand dollars.

The City of Fort Scott will be contributing another $600,000.

Mercy Hospital operated the facility until 2018, with Ascension Via Christi taking over after that. However, they left Fort Scott last December.

Clifton Beth, Bourbon County commissioner says this agreement will ensure Bourbon County residents have access to emergency services

"As we all know, seconds count, minutes count. And to be able to get into an emergency room quickly and then, if need be, transferred or whatever at that point is vital to a community and vital to save lives," said Beth.

The plan is for Freeman to move into the building on or before June 1st of next year. County commissioners will meet next Monday to discuss the Freeman Fort Scott Hospital equipment agreement and other documents given to them at today's meeting.