HaysMed, Gove County Medical Center Move Forward with Official Partnership
HaysMed and Gove County Medical Center (GCMC) are pleased to announce the launch of their strategic partnership formally began today, marking the next major milestone in the organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening rural healthcare in Gove County and the surrounding region.
This step follows the partnership agreement approved in late 2025 and builds on the longstanding relationship between the two hospitals. Under this affiliation, HaysMed will provide resource and operational support, while GCMC continues to maintain its name, identity, leadership and locally elected board.
“We’re excited to partner with HaysMed so we can continue doing all the great things we currently do at Gove County Medical Center, while also growing and expanding the care and resources we provide,” said Douglas J. Gruenbacher, M.D., GCMC Family Practice, Obstetrics. “Most importantly, nothing will change how we love and care for our patients. This is the future of healthcare, and we’re thankful to be part of it.”
Early kickoff priorities include aligning electronic health record systems, expanding access to visiting specialists, and supporting staff through integrated clinical and operational processes. Both organizations emphasize that the partnership is designed to enhance local care, not replace it.
“This work reflects our joint commitment to keeping healthcare accessible, sustainable, and rooted in the communities we serve,” said Eddie Herrman, President and CEO at HaysMed. “We are proud to move into this next phase together.”
GCMC CEO Conner Fiscarelli added, “The extensive and thorough work by both teams to make this partnership happen will bring long-term benefits to our patients, providers, and neighbors across Gove County. I’ve grown to love this community and the incredible staff who make Gove County Medical Center so special. As we begin this new chapter with HaysMed, I’m excited to see our services grow and expand while continuing to care for our patients with the same heart that defines rural healthcare.”
Community members will receive regular updates as the partnership progresses. For more information, visit gcmc.org/rural-health-reimagined.
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 destination for rural health, 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 2024, HaysMed was named as one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association and earned the prestigious five-star designation in the 2024 CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Learn more at haysmed.com.
About Gove County Medical Center
Gove County Medical Center (GCMC) has been serving the healthcare needs of northwest Kansas since 1925. As a critical access hospital in Quinter, Kansas, GCMC is dedicated to providing person-centered care to the residents of Gove County and surrounding areas. With a mission to enhance lives through the right care at the right time, close to home. GCMC offers services ranging from outpatient care to acute medical care services including 24/7 emergency care. Learn more at gcmc.org.
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