By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Current and former HaysMed medical staff have raised concerns about the hospital's financial losses, staff treatment, medical staffing levels, medical staff departures and patient care.
Staff members said problems within the hospital have stemmed from the administration's leadership, including CEO Edward Herrman.
RELATED STORY: HaysMed losses $5m; current, former staff express concern about care, administration
More members of the medical staff have come forward offering concerns about the hospital administration since the Hays Post published the above story Friday morning.
The Hays Post sent specific questions to HaysMed on Thursday, asking about layoffs and the hospitals' financials and leadership.
The Hays Post also requested a copy of the hospital's annual report and minutes from the board's latest board meeting. Those material were not provided.
However, the hospital issued the following statement Friday afternoon.
HaysMed statement
At HaysMed, we are guided by one purpose—to ensure everyone has access to high-quality healthcare close to home. Our Associates and Providers are integral to that guiding principle. Our focus is on providing award-winning patient care. As a not-for-profit private hospital, we do not engage in social media discourse or comment on former Associates or Providers.
Our extensive and long-standing credentials, awards and recognitions are evidence of the exceptional quality care provided at HaysMed. These include:
- Five-star quality rating (the highest rating possible) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, with only approximately 10% of hospitals nationwide achieving this distinction
- National designation from US News and World Report as high performing in heart attack care
- Named a Top 100 Rural Hospital in the country
- View our full list of awards and accreditations here.
Despite the economic concerns faced by hospitals nationwide, we continue to invest millions in our most valued partners, our Associates.
The healthcare landscape is challenged with escalating operational costs compounded by a lack of increased reimbursement. And these challenges are amplified for rural healthcare providers. The Board and executive team have a responsibility to judicially manage the operations of the hospital to navigate this landscape and allow for long-term sustainability without compromising quality and access to healthcare. We are privileged to serve the healthcare needs of Western Kansans.
As reference to the current healthcare landscape, please see two recent reports: Costs of Caring from the American Hospital Association, and The Crisis in Rural Health Care from the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform.
About HaysMed
Hays Medical Center (HaysMed) is a private, not-for-profit, 200+ bed hospital providing the only tertiary-level services in the region. As the premier provider in western Kansas for specialized care, HaysMed offers a wide variety of specialty programs including cardiology, orthopedics, cancer, surgery (general, minimally invasive and robotic), ENT, pulmonology, critical care and women’s services. HaysMed is a Level III Trauma Center and a certified Primary Stroke Center.
Other services include rehabilitation, hospice, neonatal, intensive care and diagnostic imaging, as well as a Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Center. HaysMed is proud to be one of only 20 U.S. hospitals recognized by Vizient in 2023 as a Top Performer in the Complex Care Medical Center cohort. In 2022, HaysMed was named as one of the top 20 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association. Learn more at haysmed.com.
Editor's note: This is an emerging story; please watch the Hays Post for more information.