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“Healthcare is still our foundation, and it always will be,” said Kristen. “We provide emergency care, primary care, behavioral health, specialty services, diagnostics, imaging, lab work and outpatient care. We continue to grow services so that people can receive more of the care they need right here, close to home.
“That matters. Access matters.
“But one of the things you learn very quickly in healthcare is that what happens in an exam room or hospital room is only one part of what makes someone healthy.”
“We take care of people when they are sick, injured, scared, or simply need help figuring out what comes next,” Kristen said.
“But today I want to talk about another part of ESH — the part that reaches well beyond the walls of the hospital. Because when I think about ESH, I don’t just think hospital. I think partner.”
Health doesn’t start at the hospital. Health starts where people live, learn, work and connect. Do they have enough to eat? Do they have stable housing? Are children safe and supported? Can families access mental-health resources? Do people have transportation? Are they connected to other people, or are they isolated?
Those things eventually show up in healthcare — but they don’t begin there. ESH is not trying to solve all of those issues. What they can do is be a really good partner to the organizations that are already doing this work every day.
One example is the hospital’s partnership with Meals with a Visit. Since the program began in January 2026, the hospital has provided nearly 2,500 meals through the program. During that same period, the hospital has provided approximately 136,000 meals through its broader food service operations for patients and community members.
The hospital also received another $1.55 million from the Clay County Children’s Services Fund this year to support behavioral health services for children and families. DeHart highlighted partnerships with the Excelsior Springs School District, including services for students, athletic health and safety, testing, and behavioral health support.
The hospital continues to serve as the fiscal agent for the SAFE Coalition, which has been working on substance-use prevention in the community for approximately 30 years. SAFE meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month in the hospital’s Community Room 1 and regularly bring together approximately 50 to 55 community partners. DeHart also highlighted Thrive Excelsior and partnerships with the Chamber, city, EMS, Farmers Market, law enforcement, senior services, local businesses, and other organizations.
“When you put all of that together, it isn’t really a list of organizations. It is a network,” said Kristen. “And I think that distinction is important. Collaboration isn’t just sitting on the same committee or putting logos next to each other. It is asking: Who is already doing this well? Where is the gap? Who needs to be at the table? And what can each of us contribute?
“Sometimes the hospital’s role is healthcare. Sometimes it is connecting someone to another resource. Sometimes it is funding, space, expertise or simply helping bring the right people together. Each organization owns a piece. Together, we can do something none of us could do alone.”
ESH is a major local employer of 300+ employees. They live here, shop here, raise families here and volunteer here. They serve on boards, coach teams, participate in community organizations and show up at local events. The hospital is an economic engine for the community. It purchases goods and services and works with local and regional businesses.
“And we are often able to serve as a convener — bringing people together when there is a community problem that crosses organizational lines,” Kristen said. “So when ESH is strong, that impact extends well beyond patient care.”
Kristen shared what the hospital is building next.
“For us, growth isn’t about being bigger just for the sake of being bigger. It is about access,” she said. “Every service we can appropriately provide here removes one more barrier for a patient or family who otherwise has to travel somewhere else for care.”
The hospital is growing specialty care, expanding vascular services and wound care services, growing GI services with Dr. Chris Martin and Rheumatology Services with Dr. Amanda Rhakra. Behavioral health continues to be an important community need. And the hospital continues to invest in technology, equipment and recruitment.
“When you hear Excelsior Springs Hospital, I hope you still think about the ER, doctors, clinicsm and healthcare. Taking great care of people is why we are here,” said Kristen. “But I hope you also think about partnership. ESH is more than a hospital. We are an employer, a neighbor, a collaborator, a resource and one part of a much bigger effort to make Excelsior Springs a healthy place to live, work, raise a family and grow older. We can’t do it alone — and thankfully, we don’t have to.”
Kristen also thanked Ameren and hospital staff for their response to a recent transformer failure. The hospital operated on emergency backup power for much of the day while the transformer was replaced.
For more about the Excelsior Springs Hospital and services that it offers, visit https://eshospital.org.