We, the undersigned residents, taxpayers, patients, business owners, healthcare workers, and community supporters of Nowata County, respectfully oppose the proposed conversion of Ascension St. John Nowata to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH).

We believe this conversion would fundamentally reduce healthcare services available to the citizens of Nowata County by eliminating acute inpatient care and swing-bed services that have long served as a critical resource for local patients and families.

For many residents, swing-bed services provide the opportunity to recover close to home following surgery, illness, injury, hospitalization, or rehabilitation needs. The loss of these services would force patients and families to travel greater distances during some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

We further believe that this proposal has moved forward without sufficient public awareness, transparency, or meaningful community involvement. Many residents remain unaware of the full impact that REH designation may have on healthcare services currently available in Nowata County.

Therefore, we respectfully request that:

• The proposed REH conversion for Ascension St. John Nowata be withdrawn, denied, or suspended pending further review.
• Acute inpatient care and swing-bed services remain available to the citizens of Nowata County.
• The hospital publicly release all transition planning documents and supporting analyses related to the proposed conversion per federal regulations. 
• Hospital leadership conduct public meetings and community discussions regarding the future of healthcare services in Nowata County.
• State and federal regulators fully consider the impact of this conversion on local healthcare access, patient outcomes, and quality of life for residents of our community.
• We support preserving a full-service community hospital that provides emergency care, acute inpatient care, swing-bed services, and recovery options close to home.

Our message is simple:

KEEP ACUTE CARE IN NOWATA.
KEEP SWING-BED SERVICES IN NOWATA.
KEEP HEALTHCARE CLOSE TO HOME.

By signing below, we respectfully urge hospital leadership, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reject the proposed REH conversion and preserve comprehensive healthcare services for the citizens of Nowata County.