There will be no merger between Geary Community Hospital in Junction City and Salina Regional Health Center. That information was announced by GCH officials last week. It leaves officials considering other future possible talks with other healthcare facilities. Geary Community Hospital, like many other healthcare facilities, has been dealing with financial challenges.

On Monday the chairman of the Geary County Commission, Charles Stimatze, commented on the subject. “Disappointing, disappointing, but have not gotten all the full details from Dr. Stratton ( GCH CEO Dr. Joe Stratton ). So we have got to get with him to see what the next steps will be, see what else is out there, see what we can do, see how we can keep the hospital and keep it here in Geary County. That’s what we all want.”

Commissioner Ben Bennett said his first reaction was disappointment that the possible merger between GCH and Salina Regional Health Center had come to that conclusion. “I had already decided in my own mind about six months ago that I was really skeptical of whether it would work or not.” Bennett added he does not know what the future will bring and things are always changing.

Bennett referred to medicaid expansion, which if approved in the legislature, could provide some extra funding for hospitals. “Many people say if the legislature and the governor come together and opt out with the medicaid issue that that will be a number of dollars to us that probably would help bridge that gap. And that’s been discussed for the last several years.”

Bennett noted the commission needs to sit down with the hospital management and the hospital board, and discuss what the future holds and where it’s going.