Senate President Ty Masterson and KHA President Chad Austin Get an Inside Look at Rural Healthcare Excellence at HaysMed

Visit highlights HaysMed’s regional outreach network, comprehensive cancer program, advanced cardiac services, and commitment to delivering high-quality care close to home across western Kansas.

HaysMed recently welcomed Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, Kansas Hospital Association President Chad Austin, and other guests for a tour showcasing the advanced healthcare services available to patients across western Kansas.

Joining the tour from HaysMed were Michelle Beckner, Chief Financial Officer, and Joannah Applequist, Chief Legal Officer. Also participating was Dr. Kayla Gray, HaysMed Hospitalist and Rob LaPierre, Director of Finance, representing regional partners Gove County Medical Center and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital. Following the tour, more than a dozen regional, community, and critical access hospitals from across Kansas gathered at HaysMed for a discussion and roundtable focused on rural healthcare led by the Kansas Hospital Association.

The tour highlighted HaysMed’s role as a regional referral center serving patients across western Kansas and its commitment to ensuring rural communities have access to high-quality healthcare close to home.

A primary stop on the tour was the HaysMed Breast Care Center, where visitors learned about the center’s advanced capabilities, including onsite radiology services that help provide timely diagnoses and coordinated care for patients. During the visit, HaysMed leaders also discussed the organization’s comprehensive cancer program, the most complete in western Kansas. Serving patients from 55 counties, the program offers a full spectrum of services, including medical oncology, hematology, and radiation oncology, allowing patients throughout the region to access sophisticated cancer care closer to home.

The group also discussed HaysMed’s unique position as the only hospital in western Kansas offering 24/7 specialty coverage in nephrology, urology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and general surgery. These services help ensure patients throughout the region can access specialized care without traveling long distances.

Another focus of the visit was HaysMed’s extensive regional outreach network. With 37 outreach clinics, HaysMed extends healthcare services throughout rural Kansas by providing physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses to communities across the region. These outreach efforts help patients receive care closer to home while maintaining access to HaysMed specialists when needed.

The tour also included cardiology services as guests visited the Cath Lab and learned about HaysMed’s heart program, including electrophysiology and interventional cardiology services. Dr. Travis Haneke shared information on renal denervation, an innovative, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with difficult-to-control high blood pressure. Visitors also learned about HaysMed’s advanced hybrid operating room from Operating Room Director Terry Redetzke. Opened in April 2025, the hybrid suite combines cutting-edge imaging technology with surgical capabilities, allowing physicians to perform complex cardiovascular and surgical procedures close to home for patients across western Kansas.

The tour highlighted ongoing investments in the future of rural healthcare, including plans for a new PET/CT Nuclear Medicine area made possible through Rural Health Transformation Program funding. The new service will allow more patients to access advanced imaging and diagnostic services closer to home, reducing the need to travel to metropolitan areas for care.

Guests also discussed HaysMed’s Birth Center and learned about the organization’s commitment to maternal and infant health. HaysMed delivers more than 500 babies each year and provides around-the-clock access to anesthesia services and board-certified pediatricians. Despite the challenges many rural communities face in recruiting healthcare providers, HaysMed continues to invest in women’s and children’s services while maintaining a level of care comparable to what patients would expect in larger urban settings.

“HaysMed is proud to serve as a regional healthcare resource for western Kansas,” said Michelle Beckner, Chief Financial Officer of HaysMed. “Opportunities to share the services, technology, and partnerships that support rural healthcare help demonstrate the important role healthcare organizations play in ensuring patients can receive high-quality care close to home.”

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase not only HaysMed’s services and facilities, but also the strong collaboration among hospitals across western Kansas as they work together to meet the healthcare needs of their communities.