• OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide care close to home.
• The designation provides greater flexibility and supports the hospital’s long-term sustainability as a rural healthcare provider.
• Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey as part of the designation process

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered care while supporting the hospital's long-term sustainability and access to services close to home.

The Critical Access Hospital program was established to help rural hospitals maintain local access to care by providing additional flexibility through a cost-based Medicare reimbursement model.

“This designation helps ensure we can continue providing the care our community depends on, now and into the future,” said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “It strengthens our hospital, supports our caregivers and positions us to meet the healthcare needs of our community for years to come.”

With this designation, Van Wert Hospital joins other OhioHealth rural hospitals operating under the Critical Access Hospital model, including OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital and OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital.

Critical Access Hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and must meet specific operational and regulatory requirements. As part of the designation process, Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey assessing its compliance with nationally recognized standards for quality and patient safety through on-site observations and reviews of clinical and operational processes.

“Our priority is always making sure our patients receive safe, compassionate care," said Leslie Beining, chief nursing officer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "Critical Access Hospital designation gives our teams the flexibility and resources needed to provide that care and support the needs of our community.”

Van Wert Hospital leaders said they remain focused on providing trusted, patient-focused care throughout the transition. 

To learn more, visit jointcommission.org/accreditation/critical-access-hospital.

• A $500 donation from FOP Lodge 62 will support Paula’s Pantry at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital.
• The hospital’s food pantry provides short-term assistance and essential items to patients experiencing food insecurity.
• Community donations help the hospital connect people with immediate resources while directing community members to additional local food assistance.

A donation from the Van Wert Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 62 will help sustain OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital’s efforts to provide food and other essentials to patients and families in need.

The hospital’s food pantry provides short-term assistance to patients experiencing food insecurity. Hospital staff can connect patients with “Paula’s Pantry” when a need is identified, providing them with food to help meet immediate needs and information about additional resources available in the community.

“We’re fortunate to be part of a community that has always supported us as police officers and retired police officers, and we want to be able to give that support back,” said Bruce Showalter, president of FOP Lodge 62. “We just try to do what we think is right for the community.”

The $500 donation is part of the FOP Lodge 62’s ongoing commitment to supporting local organizations and community initiatives. The FOP also made donations to three other local pantries.

Paula’s Pantry includes a variety of shelf-stable foods that can be used to create simple meals, as well as essential items such as personal hygiene products and infant supplies.

“We know that food insecurity can create additional challenges for patients and families,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Support from community partners like FOP Lodge 62 helps us meet people where they are and provide resources that can make a meaningful difference during a difficult time.”

The food pantry is intended for current Van Wert Hospital patients, their families and associates who need assistance. Community members seeking food assistance are encouraged to access other local resources, including the United Way of Van Wert County, Carla’s Cupboard and other community pantries.

“The hospital serves the residents of Van Wert County, and it’s important to us to support that,” Showalter said. “We don’t want to be a community where services are difficult to come by. We hope to continue supporting these efforts in the future whenever we have the opportunity.”

• Weapons-free screening begins Aug. 3 at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital to support a safe, secure environment for all who enter.
• Patients and visitors will enter through entrances #1 or #2 and complete a brief screening, including metal detectors and bag checks.
• Emergency care remains the highest priority, and screening is designed to minimize delays.

Beginning Monday Aug. 3, 2026, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital will implement weapons-free screening at designated public entrances as part of a systemwide effort to support a safe, secure environment across OhioHealth care sites. While weapons have long been prohibited at OhioHealth facilities, screening helps reinforce that policy at the point of entry. 

Healthcare organizations across the country are facing increased safety challenges. In response to these evolving risks, OhioHealth continues to evaluate and enhance security measures to help maintain safe environments for care and healing. 

"Everyone who walks through our doors deserves to feel safe," said Chris Blaney, director, OhioHealth Protective Services. "As violence in healthcare settings continues to rise nationwide, we're taking proactive steps to better protect our patients, visitors, associates and providers. Weapons-free screening is one way we're helping create a safer environment while ensuring our communities continue to have access to the care they need close to home." 

Beginning Aug. 3, patients and visitors can expect: 

• Screening at designated entrances, including metal detectors, bag and purse checks, and support from OhioHealth Protective Services officers, with a process designed to minimize delays.
• Entry through Door #1 or Door #2 only:
  • Door #1: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Door #2: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Patients who receive cardiac rehabilitation may continue to use Door #6 and will be contacted with additional information.
• Around-the-clock onsite coverage by OhioHealth Protective Services officers.
• Emergency treatment and life-saving care to remain the hospital's highest priority at all times. 

Van Wert Hospital is working closely with local emergency medical services and other partners to support the implementation of the new screening process. Beginning Sept. 1, all OhioHealth associates entering the hospital will also participate in weapons-free screening. 

"At OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, maintaining a safe, welcoming environment is central to our responsibility to the community," said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "Weapons-free screening reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a safe place for those who come here for care and those who provide it." 

The clinic is open to the public and offered on a walk-in basis, no registration or appointment is required. During the event, a physician will evaluate any concerning skin lesions and discuss potential next steps if additional care is recommended. Each screening takes about 20 minutes.

Skin changes are common and can range from harmless growths to more serious concerns, making it important to have anything unusual evaluated by a medical professional.

“Skin changes are often easy to overlook, but early detection can make a significant difference,” said Thomas Conte, MD, Van Wert Hospital chief of surgery. “This screening clinic gives people an opportunity to have a concerning spot looked at in a comfortable setting and to better understand whether further evaluation is needed.”

The screening clinic will be held in the hospital’s surgery department. Guests should enter through the main entrance (door #1) upon arrival. Staff will be available onsite to help schedule follow-up appointments, if recommended. While the screenings themselves are free, any additional office visits or procedures may involve standard costs.

For questions about the event, please contact Bri.Wilkinson@OhioHealth.com.

On Tuesday March 31, the hospital lobby was filled with smiles, as kids had the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, snap photos and take home a special holiday treat.

“Having events at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, like we had the Easter event, within the community it builds the trust and the connection,” said Julie Heffner, Van Wert Hospital Surgery Inventory Coordinator.

But the celebration didn’t stop there. The Easter Bunny made rounds throughout the hospital, surprising associates at work and visiting patients in their rooms.

“It makes patients not feel as isolated while they’re here, and it gives them a sense of normalcy,” said Heffner.

For patients spending the holiday in the hospital, like Betty Hudson, those small moments can make a big impact. Hudson said it was a nice reminder that a bit of fun can make even challenging days brighter.

To learn more about OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital's programs and services, click here.

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has reached a major milestone, performing more than 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries since launching the program in 2020. This milestone marks years of local patients choosing robotic surgery with surgeons they know and trust.

“We’ve had the robot for five years now,” said Thomas Conte, MD, Van Wert Hospital chief of surgery. “As a rural facility, we’re on the cutting edge. It gives patients access to relatively new technology without having to travel to a larger center.”

Since the program began, Van Wert Hospital surgeons have expanded how robotic-assisted surgery is used, performing everything from appendectomies to colon resections using minimally invasive techniques. They operate the da Vinci® Surgical System, which replicates their hand movements with robotic precision.

“We each have hundreds of cases under our belt,” Dr. Conte said. “That experience matters. It builds confidence for patients and helps everything run smoothly in the operating room. This is very much a team effort. Nurses and everyone in the OR play a role in that success.”

Van Wert Hospital surgeon Jeremy Stoller, MD, said reaching 1,000 cases is a proud moment for the team.

"Hitting this milestone is reflective of the fact that we have transitioned completely to using robotic surgery for any minimally invasive hernia and abdominal surgery,” he said. “In the past, some surgeries required large incisions. Now we can do more procedures through small incisions, which means faster recovery and less post-surgical pain.”

Patient Richard Hines turned to robotic surgery to receive advanced care without the added stress of traveling far from home. When diverticulitis sent him to the emergency room multiple times, surgery became necessary.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Hines said. “But after talking with Dr. Conte, I felt completely comfortable. He explained how the robot works and how it would help during the surgery. That made a big difference going in.”

Recovery turned out to be much easier than he anticipated. Pain was minimal, and within a couple of days, he didn’t need any medication. Being able to recover close to home added to the comfort. His wife could visit easily, and there was no need to travel back and forth.

“I was actually a little bummed when they told me I was being discharged,” Hines said. “I had such great care.”

Robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly used as an alternative to traditional open surgery and standard laparoscopic procedures. The system provides surgeons with a clearer, three-dimensional view and precise control, helping them work in areas that may be difficult to reach with other instruments.

“Our techniques and training are the same as any other bigger hospital with regard to the robotic platform,” Dr. Stoller said. “I think for our hospital and community, that is a big deal. Patients can trust in what we do, that our goal for every single patient is to offer standard of care robotic surgery." 

To learn more about robotic-assisted surgery at OhioHealth, click here.

OhioHealth is proud to announce that Tom Lyons, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, has earned the CCI Anesthesia CRNA of the Year award. This national award recognizes his outstanding contributions to patient care, clinical excellence, and leadership within the anesthesia field. 

The CCI Anesthesia CRNA of the Year award is given to a CRNA who demonstrates exceptional skill, compassion, and dedication to their practice. Lyons was selected for his unwavering commitment to patient safety and his collaborative spirit, which have made a significant impact on both his patients and colleagues at Van Wert Hospital. His ability to provide high-quality care in a community hospital setting exemplifies the values of both OhioHealth and CCI Anesthesia. 

"Receiving this award is a tremendous honor, and it’s truly a reflection of the incredible team I work with every day at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital," said Tom Lyons. "To be recognized by an organization like CCI Anesthesia is humbling. I am passionate about providing the best possible care to our community, and this award inspires me to continue striving for excellence in everything I do for our patients." 

The recognition highlights the strong partnership between OhioHealth and CCI Anesthesia, which focuses on delivering superior anesthesia services and enhancing operational efficiency in healthcare settings. This collaboration ensures that communities like Van Wert have access to top-tier medical professionals and patient-centered care. 

"We are incredibly proud of Tom and this well-deserved national recognition," said Paula Stabler, President of Van Wert Hospital. "His dedication to our patients and his expertise as a CRNA are invaluable to our hospital and the community we serve. Tom’s commitment to compassionate, high-quality care embodies the spirit of OhioHealth, and we are thrilled to celebrate this significant achievement with him."