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Rival towns merge facilities to secure access to healthcare

Featuredproject Medical Patterson Outside2

Anthony (pop. 2,269) and Harper (pop. 1,473) are Harper County’s two largest communities located nine miles apart. Both had small, financially struggling hospitals.

The two towns were longtime rivals – but the county didn’t want to lose their access to healthcare.

The two hospital districts merged and built a state-of-the-art medical facility, the Patterson Health Center on a 60-acre site next to their shared high school.

Patterson Health Center Medical Facility; Harper/Anthony, KS

The new centrally located critical access hospital has 16 inpatient beds, 22 exam rooms, a large emergency department with two trauma bays, physical therapy and rehab center, and a wellness center. The $41 million, 62,500-SF rural hospital includes a cafe that serves the public and the hospital, as well as an open community center, public green space for community events, a community garden and various trails.

Named after benefactor and native of Anthony, Neal Patterson, who encouraged the merger, the healthcare center’s state-of-the-art information and medical technologies include electronic outpatient registration, digital patient tracking, telemedicine capabilities for clinic and trauma patients, automated medication dispensing units, contemporary surgical and diagnostic imaging equipment.

PEC’s engineering team provided…

  • mechanical engineering
  • electrical engineering
  • plumbing engineering
  • structural engineering