Flemingsburg, KY (March 10, 2025) – Fleming County Hospital is converting to a Rural Emergency Hospital from a Critical Access Hospital to better serve Fleming County and its surrounding community.  Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) are hospitals that provide emergency and outpatient care to patients who usually stay for less than one day. 

REH’s were created by Congress in 2021 to help rural communities maintain access to health care.

As an REH hospital, Fleming County Hospital will enhance services, including outpatient surgery, 24-hour emergency services, observation services and outpatient services.  Other key services including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services will also still be provided.

“Because of these changes, Fleming County Hospital will be able to expand the services it can provide to residents of Fleming County and its surrounding areas,” said Bruce Tassin, Interim CEO. “Providing quality health care is our priority, and we look forward to being able to provide these additional services to our neighbors.”

The discontinuation of inpatient hospital stays is the result of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service determining that Fleming County Hospital no longer meets Critical Access Hospital criteria.  Once these changes take effect in the next 60 to 90 days, Fleming will no longer be providing inpatient services. However, those requiring hospital stays will still be able to receive those services at a number of nearby hospitals, including Meadowview Regional Medical Center.

“We look forward to becoming an REH and continuing to provide high quality healthcare to the communities we serve,” said Bruce Tassin.