Freeman Health System Breaks Ground for New Southeast Kansas Hospital
Frontenac, KAN. – With ceremonial shovel scoops of dirt, what was once a wind-swept Southeast Kansas soybean field will quickly transform into Freeman Health System’s newest full-service hospital.
Wearing her iconic pink hard hat while gripping a gold-colored shovel, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker led selected dignitaries – including Frontenac Mayor Steve Morrison and Frontenac City Manager John Zafuta – through the much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the 50-bed, 170,000-square-foot Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital.
“Today we mark a historical first for Freeman Health System and the entire region,” Baker said. “We’re honored and grateful for this opportunity to improve healthcare in Southeast Kansas and beyond.”
The $168 million hospital, located on Highway 69, is set to serve a significant healthcare need.
“The region,” Baker said, “deserves the best, and that’s why we’re building here.”
Freeman Health System hired HMN Architects of Overland Park, Kansas, to design the hospital.
The construction project will be completed in three phases, over a 24- to 34-month time period, Baker said during her speech. Phases include:
- Site development, utilities, and roadways;
- Construction of a two-story Ambulatory Surgery Center, with the top floor dedicated to medical and physician offices; and
- Construction of Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital itself.
The new Freeman hospital will provide much-needed emergency care; cardiac care, including a catheterization laboratory; an ICU; maternity care; pediatrics; outpatient and inpatient surgery – including robotic procedures; medical and radiation oncology; pulmonary care; radiology; and other key services.
Freeman engineers, Baker said, are working with City of Frontenac engineers to design and upgrade sewer and water infrastructure to serve the hospital and the future of the community.
“Frontenac officials began planning for water and sewer upgrades several years before we selected this site,” she said during her speech. “The timing couldn’t be better, because they are nearly ready to start construction of a new water tower, with new pumps and piping.”
Freeman Health System is also coordinating with Kansas Department of Transportation and recently conducted a comprehensive traffic study projecting the impact of increased traffic at the hospital site, Baker said.
Once completed, the new hospital is expected to create 500 to 1,000 jobs for the area. The health system, the largest employer in the region, already serves Southeast Kansas with primary and specialty care clinics, an outpatient surgery center, and a comprehensive medical oncology program. Just down the road, Freeman will open this year a 24/7 emergency department and 10-bed acute care hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas.
“This is truly a dream come true for Freeman Health System, and for me personally, because I grew up in Pittsburg and will always hold the area close to my heart,” Baker said.
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
