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Nearly 3,400 Fort Scott and Bourbon County residents have utilized Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Inc.’s Emergency Department since it first opened for business last September.

The need for the facility helps explain why so many residents showed up to support the long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place, appropriately enough, in front of the hospital’s ambulance bay Thursday morning.

“I think it’s beautiful when we come together like this in celebration,” said Matt Fry, Freeman Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “There’s so many people that showed up for this ribbon-cutting today, and I think it’s a testament to how much this hospital means to the people living in this community.”

The reaction to Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was very similar to the enthusiastic response from residents when Freeman officials first proposed the hospital in mid-2024, when nearly 150 people cheered the announcement. At that time, Fort Scott had been without a hospital since 2018 and without an emergency department since 2023. Between then and the September 2025 opening of Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, residents were forced to travel to neighboring communities for their emergency healthcare needs.

Anita Walden, Chief Administrative Officer for Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc., described Thursday morning as an “incredible day” for Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the future of healthcare in the region.

“When these doors opened in September 2025, we did more than reopen a hospital, we restored local access to care, created stability, and brought healthcare back home for the families of this region,” she said.

Over the last 25 years, 470-plus rural hospitals have closed nationwide. To open a rural hospital during this time is a cause for celebration. The best way for Bourbon County residents to continue showing support for the six-bed ED and 10-bed acute care hospital is by choosing to receive care locally whenever possible, Walden said.

“By utilizing the services available right here at Freeman Fort Scott Hospital and encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same, you help strengthen access to quality healthcare for all of Bourbon County,” she continued. “Your trust and support play an important role in the long-term success of [Freeman Fort Scott Hospital].”

“The hospital continues to serve our community every day, with 14 patients seen daily in the ED and four more on the acute care side,” Fry said, emphasizing that, even with this steady utilization, “the pursuit of improvement never stops.”