JOPLIN, Mo.—Expansion projects are underway at all three Freeman campuses, the latest of which will position Freeman Neosho Hospital to better serve its growing number of emergency room patients.
According to data available from Missouri Hospital Association, Freeman Neosho Hospital has one of the state’s busiest emergency rooms for critical access hospitals, serving 18,319 patients in 2011. In response to the department’s increasing annual patient count, Freeman Neosho Hospital expanded its emergency roomfrom six beds to nine, thus allowing for a greater patient load and more services to the community.
“Expansion is underway within many corners of Freeman Health System, and Neosho is no exception,” said Daxton Holcomb, Freeman Vice President of Emergency Services. “In November, Freeman Neosho opened the Gary Duncan Women’s Pavilion, bringing state-of-the-art digital mammography to the women of this community. Now, it is our pleasure to bring to Neosho yet another shining example of the quality, innovative healthcare that is the cornerstone of Freeman.”
The addition of three rooms will bring the department’s total count to nine, allowing the hospital’s already impressive emergency room patient volume to reach an entirely new level. Of the rooms added, one is a fast-track room intended for the less acutely ill or injured. The remaining additional rooms are for critically ill or injured trauma patients. The project was designed with the goal of giving patients faster treatment.
Freeman Neosho celebrated the completion of the emergency room project, which began in October 2011, by holding a ribbon cutting with the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce.
Also as a result of this expansion, Freeman Neosho Emergency Room has added to its clinical staff. The department will now employ five physicians, two physician assistants, two nurse practitioners and 25 nurses.
The clinical staff of the Freeman Neosho Emergency Room exemplify the health system’s mission to provide the best care to our communities, said Paula Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Freeman has long prided itself on the fact that we are the area’s only locally owned, not-for-profit health system,” said Baker. “This means each and every decision made at Freeman is made with our community in mind. This means each and every dollar earned at Freeman is returned to benefit the health our community. This commitment is especially evident right here in Neosho. And, as always, it is our privilege to provide such care.”
About Freeman Health System
Based in Joplin, Missouri, Freeman Health System is the area’s only locally owned, not-for-profit health system, serving southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. Freeman provides comprehensive healthcare and behavioral health services, including cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurosciences, orthopaedics, and women’s services, with more than 300 physicians representing 60 specialties. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem, or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo.