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Across the country, rural hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open. In fact, many are closing, leaving communities with no care in the vicinity of their homes, schools and workplaces. But here in Atwood, Rawlins County Health Center remains a strong cornerstone of the community.

“We understand the importance of having a good health center nearby,” said Jeanette Filpi, RCHC Interim Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we work hard every day to ensure that Rawlins County Health Center remains a full-service medical center offering high-quality care. The people of northwest Kansas need and deserve excellent care close to home. The passage of the recent mill levy will help us continue to provide accessible local healthcare.”

In case you haven’t visited RCHC lately, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of all the services available right here in Atwood.

Emergency and Hospital Care

A Level IV Trauma Center, the RCHC Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you or someone you care about experiences sudden, severe illness or sustains a serious injury requiring immediate medical attention, we recommend you come to the ER immediately. Call 911 if the illness or injury may be life-threatening. The ambulance crew can start providing lifesaving care right away.

For illnesses and injuries requiring hospitalization, RCHC has 13 hospital beds and around-the-clock care. Swing-bed care is available for patients who no longer need acute care but aren’t yet ready to return home. Swing-bed services typically include nursing care and rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational therapy.

Surgery

RCHC has two experienced general surgeons who perform scheduled outpatient surgeries two days a month. Common same-day procedures include colonoscopies, endoscopies and some biopsies. If you would like to discuss the possibility of having a surgical procedure at RCHC, call 785.626.3211 and ask for the surgery department.

Rural Health Clinic

Rawlins Clinic—Atwood is open Monday through Friday and also offers walk-in hours on Saturday mornings. We have six providers, including one MD, two Physician Assistants, two Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and one Licensed Master Social Worker. All are accepting new patients. Services include annual wellness visits, DOT physicals, well-child visits, diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses, management of chronic illnesses, diabetes education, women’s health visits, referrals to specialists and behavioral health therapy. Most insurances are accepted, and sliding-fee scale is offered. We do not deny access to services based on inability to pay.

Specialty Services

A dedicated cardiologist, neurologist and podiatrist regularly visit RCHC, seeing patients as often as weekly to provide specialized care. We also offer convenient telemedicine appointments with a nephrologist, endocrinologist and rheumatologist. In addition, virtual counseling appointments are available with trained behavioral health specialists, ensuring comprehensive support for mental health needs. Our visiting general surgeons are available for clinical consultations as well. We aim to deliver high-quality healthcare through in-person and virtual options to accommodate our patients’ diverse needs.

Lab Tests, Imaging and Rehabilitation  

The RCHC Laboratory provides a wide array of blood, urine and other specimen tests. Your provider may order the tests, or you can come in and request tests directly. Our imaging center offers state-of-the-art CT, MRI, 3D mammography, DEXA bone density testing, nuclear studies, ultrasound, X-ray and more. We were able to successfully secure grant funding from Atwood Second Century, ACE Foundation, RCHC Foundation and Dane G. Hansen Foundation to upgrade the X-ray room equipment.

In addition, our physical, occupational and speech therapists help patients recovering from surgery, illness or injury. Services are available both to hospital patients and outpatients.

Our Cardiac Wellness Program helps community members improve fitness. Anyone can join with a doctor’s note.

Facility Upgrades

Rawlins County Health Center is a two-level, 44,000-square-foot facility. The original building was constructed in 1950.  Over the years, the facility has undergone many small remodels and additions, most of which took place in the early 2000s. The most recent remodel was completed in 2018.

The RCHC Board of Trustees along with Senior Leadership continue to look for ways to maximize utilization of the current facility footprint as well as opportunities to bring in new service lines to better serve our growing community. In 2025, RCHC will focus on what it does well, with hopes to expand the Rehabilitation Services suite, relocate the Specialty Clinic to better accommodate outpatient services and improve the pre- and post-operative areas of the Surgery Department to deliver the best patient experience possible.

“In 2025, it is our intent for our staff and patients to see exciting improvements to the RCHC facility,” Filpi said. “The changes we are anticipating will help strengthen RCHC’s role as a healthcare cornerstone in this community, now and long into the future.”

To Learn More

If you have questions about the care offered at Rawlins Country Health Center hospital or clinics, please call 785.626.3211. We are committed to improving the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve, and we look forward to caring for you and your family.