Located in the heart of Southeast Kansas, Labette Health is a 109-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital situated at the southern edge of Parsons, a community of 12,000 residents. Serving a six-county area since 1961, Labette Health has earned recognition as a respected regional medical center renowned for its comprehensive health care services, skilled and caring employees, state-of-the-art medical technology and equipment, and dedicated and talented medical staff.

Labette Health's prompt response to the health care needs of the communities it serves has resulted in half a dozen expansion projects over its 40-year history, including the most recent announcement of a $20 million dollar expansion. In response to the needs of patients from rural communities in Labette Health's service area, the medical center operates two rural clinics (in Erie and St. Paul), in addition to the Katy Clinic located within the City of Parsons.

Without a doubt, Labette Health's primary strength is its complement of 37 physicians representing over 15 medical specialties, including anesthesiology, cardiology, otorhinolarangology, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, ophthalmology, neurology, pathology, pediatrics, radiology, emergency medicine, and general, vascular, thoracic, urological, orthopedic and oncological surgery. In addition, consultation clinics are held regularly at Labette Health by specialists in nephrology, oncology, physiatry, pulmonology, podiatry and treatment of diabetes.

Progressive administrative leaders and trustees over the past four decades have continued Labette Health's original objective of being alert to and responding to the health care needs of area residents. By recruiting the most skilled and dedicated physicians and staff, acquiring the highest quality state-of-the-art equipment, and providing the highest quality services and programs, Labette Health has earned the trust and loyalty of the people of Labette County and Southeast Kansas. A staff of over 400 skilled and dedicated employees is key to Labette Health's success in providing a variety of excellent services that includes Rapid Recovery Joint Replacement, Express Care, radiology, nuclear medicine, MRI*, CT, ultrasound/sonogram, lithotripsy, outpatient surgery, 24-hour emergency services (including two ambulance locations in the County), physical-occupational-speech therapy, pulmonary services, neurological testing, pharmacy, renal treatment center, sleep disorder center, dietary counseling, sports medicine, acute and intensive care, skilled nursing, complete laboratory services, Wound and Skin Healing Center, FDA/ACR approved mammography, bone densitometry, Family Birthplace (complete obstetrics services), home care, pastoral care, a thriving Foundation supported by employees, medical staff, and area residents, and an active and fiscally-supportive auxiliary organization. Recently, with the support of the Labette Health Foundation, Labette Health was able to open a fully equipped Telemedicine unit and to acquire BIO-Z equipment to enable congestive heart failure patients to be monitored non-invasively.

SELF SUPPORTING
In its over 40-year history, Labette Health has been fiscally sound and has never required tax funds to supplement its operation.

PART OF THE COMMUNITY
Labette Health's role in the community and service area goes beyond providing top quality medical and health care services. As important as treating an illness or injury is, Labette Health also emphasizes preventive health care through cooperation with other area agencies' and organizations' endeavors, community education programs, and the most recently created department at the Labette Health, Occupational Medicine. Inaugurated as "HealthWorks," Labette Health's occupational medicine program has operated in part for the past five years, providing health screenings for a number of local employers. This year, the Labette Health formalized its HealthWorks program, establishing an occupational medicine department whose director is responsible for contracting with area employers to provide a number of employee health services, including health screenings, evaluations, physical and occupational therapy and other Workers' Comp follow-up.

Labette Health supports efforts of area health-related organizations, such as the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, American Diabetes Association's Walk for Diabetes, American Red Cross CPR classes for the public, Annual Baby Sitters' clinic, free prostate cancer screenings (with staff urologist), and providing scholarships (through Labette Health Foundation and Auxiliary) and a practicum site for students pursing health care careers.

A DYNAMIC ORGANIZATION
Just as health care changes on a daily basis, Labette Health continues to undergo changes. We are proud of our successful 44-year history and the quality reputation we've earned. We will keep enhancing our programs and services by integrating new technology and practices with the present ones. In the ever-changing world of health care, we will always be looking ahead with new dreams and expectations in our ongoing effort to provide the best care for our service area.
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*An area leader in acquiring state-of-the-art equipment, Labette Health was the first in the 4-state area and one of the first in the Midwest to acquire an "open-air" design MRI unit. The original equipment has now been replaced with the newest and highest quality open-air design unit available. Labette Health's CT unit also was recently replaced with the latest and most technologically advanced model.