With a goal of transforming healthcare by providing innovative care to rural Kansas, two critical access hospitals, Anthony Medical Center and Harper Hospital District #5 partnered with Kahler Slater and Multistudio to design a new critical access hospital: Patterson Health Center. The new health center’s goals were to create a healthy campus focused on promoting wellness for their patients and surrounding communities and to deliver healthcare with resilient, flexible, and cost-effective operations.

The design intentionally incorporates technology creating improvements in operational practices, workflow and efficiency. Located adjacent to the community high school, the Center was designed to provide spaces to support student engagement such as introductory training programs, wellness programs, and sports medicine. A 22-exam room clinic connected to the critical access hospital features an Integrated Care Team clinic delivery model. An outpatient rehabilitation gym with private treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool provide physical, occupational and cardiopulmonary therapies and is available for staff to use off-hours to meet their own fitness goals.