LATEST NEWS

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — For Brett Liebl, DPT, joining the rehabilitation team at Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic isn't just the start of a new career; it's a homecoming. A native of Claflin, Liebl grew up working alongside his father and brothers on the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and community. Those same values ultimately led him into physical therapy and, after years of education and training, back to the area he has always called home. After

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — After years of searching for ways to better serve the nearly 9,000 veterans living throughout Central Kansas, Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic has officially been approved as a provider in the VA Community Care Network (VACCN), giving eligible veterans greater access to healthcare closer to home. The approval is the culmination of a journey that began nearly three years ago when members of the Fort Zarah Veterans Advisory Council approached hospital leadership wi

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — Most people never think twice about brushing their teeth, preparing a meal or getting ready for the day—until an injury, illness or medical condition makes those simple tasks difficult. Helping people reclaim those everyday moments is what inspired Hannah Young, OTD, to become an occupational therapist and what brought her to Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic this summer. Young joined Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic on June 1 and brings experience working in acute car

On Dec. 7, 2022, 17-year-old Trace Ritterhouse’s life changed in an instant. A devastating motor vehicle accident in rural Stafford County left him with catastrophic injuries, including a severe traumatic brain injury. He was transported to Wesley Medical Center, where his condition was so critical that his survival remained uncertain. Early in his hospitalization, medical providers delivered a prognosis no family wants to hear. Even if Trace survived, they explained, he woul

ELLINWOOD, Kan. —Haven Liebl joins Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic as a new respiratory therapist serving patients throughout the hospital. Liebl, who spent part of her childhood in Ellinwood before her family moved away during her freshman year of high school, joined Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic in June. Now, she is bringing her experience from Wesley Medical Center in Wichita back to the community she has always considered home. “I grew up in Ellinwood and am thrilled to have th

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic will host a free Brain Health Day on Thursday, July 30, offering community members an opportunity to learn more about cognitive wellness and receive a complimentary memory screening. Michelle Niedens, L.S.C.S.W., Director, Cognitive Care Network at the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, will be conducting these screenings on-site at Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic. Appointments will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ellinwoo

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic is launching a limited-time community initiative designed to help patients reduce outstanding medical debt and ease financial burdens for local families. During June 2026, qualifying patients may receive a 40% reduction on eligible outstanding account balances when payment is made in full between June 1 and June 30, 2026. Hospital leadership says the initiative reflects the organization’s continued commitment to supporting the hea

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — Demolition work on the former hospital building in Ellinwood is scheduled to begin July 20, immediately following the conclusion of the After Harvest Festival weekend. Prior to demolition, asbestos abatement work is expected to begin this week as part of the site preparation process. The demolition project will be completed by Eakin Construction of Larned and is anticipated to take approximately 7–8 business days to complete. While the building itself will b

ELLINWOOD, Kan. — Beginning May 4, Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic will take over preparation of meals for the Ellinwood Heritage Senior Center, bringing both Meals on Wheels and Friendship Meals closer to home for the local community. The change eliminates the need for daily trips to Great Bend, where meals were previously prepared through Eldercare. Volunteers had been responsible for picking up meals each morning and transporting them back to Ellinwood in time for lunch servic

After seeing a need many years ago for both senior housing and childcare facilities, Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic entered into an agreement with both Housing Opportunities, Inc, and St. John’s Child Development Center to lease properties for those needed services for a nominal fee. Recently, the decision was made to sell those properties to those organizations. “In 1999, the hospital entered into an agreement with Housing Opportunities for them to build the apartment complex