First phase of Fairfax hospital expansion complete

Fairfax Community Hospital announced April 27 at an open house the first phase of its $5-million expansion is complete, transforming the facility from a 15-bed to a 25-bed critical access hospital. The new wing includes six new private rooms with enhanced technology and accommodations.

The new addition is intended to provide residents in Osage County and its surrounding communities with access to high-quality healthcare closer to home, without having to travel to Tulsa or Oklahoma City. The completion of the hospital wing and additional facility improvements brings multiple new features, technologies and services, including:

New expanded lab with advanced inpatient and outpatient in-house lab services;

Enhanced accommodations for patients of larger size;

Six new private rooms with Hillrom Smartbeds;

Lift systems for secure patient movement;

Wound care center;

Two emergency department rooms.

“The new wing is a critical addition to the community. We know how important it is for patients to have accessible, quality healthcare, and we are pleased to offer residents first-rate services close to home,” said Jeff Hill, CEO of Avem Health Partners, a hospital management company dedicated to the revitalization and maintenance of rural and community hospitals, including Fairfax. “We are confident the new enhancements will provide patients from Fairfax and beyond with comprehensive, patient-focused care for years to come.”

The open house began at 1 p.m. April 27 at Fairfax Community Hospital. Remarks were given by members of the community, including Russell Hughes, pastor of First Christian Church of Fairfax; Dr. James I. Graham, a longtime physician at the hospital; along with key players in the expansion, such as Hunter Thoms, CEO of Rural Wellness Fairfax; Jeff Hill, CEO of AVEM Health Partners; and Dr. Elizabeth Pusey, founder and president of Rural Wellness Fairfax. Following remarks, small group tours of the hospital expansion were conducted, allowing attendees to gain a peek at the new wing.

“We’d like to give a special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Pusey, the founder and president of Rural Wellness, Inc., for her $5-million investment to transform our rural hospital into a state-of-the-art facility with first-rate healthcare, advanced technologies and superior service,” said Hunter Thoms, CEO of Rural Wellness Fairfax. “None of this would be possible without her dedication to Oklahoma residents and belief that everyone deserves access to the highest-quality healthcare available.”

A practicing radiologist with decades of experience, Dr. Elizabeth Pusey founded Rural Wellness Fairfax, Inc. when her passion for accessible rural healthcare brought her to Fairfax Community Hospital. Rural Wellness Fairfax acquired the hospital, along with two area clinics in Fairfax and Pawnee, with the goal of revitalizing, updating, and expanding the facilities to bring top-quality healthcare to the community.

“The foundational vision of Rural Wellness, Inc. is to revitalize rural hospitals, provide patients with excellent healthcare and elevate and strengthen communities,” said Dr. Pusey. “With Avem Health Partners operating the hospital, ensuring top talents are serving our community, preserving and adding jobs and working to deliver an environment of the utmost quality care, this vision of transformation is just the beginning.”

The new wing of the Fairfax Community Hospital was scheduled to open to patients on May 1. For more information, visit fairfaxcommunityhospital.com.

Photo cutline: The first phase of a multi-million-dollar expansion has been completed at Fairfax Community Hospital.