Newman Regional Health (NRH) is taking steps to ensure patients receive not only quality medical care, but also the support they need outside hospital walls. Under the leadership of Cathy Pimple, DNP, RN—recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the 2025 Community Hospital CEOs to Know—the Kansas-based hospital has embedded social determinants of health (SDOH) screening directly into its MEDITECH Expanse EHR.
Building on its successful Community Health Worker program, launched in 2022, NRH now enables clinicians to screen for and address essential needs, such as food, housing, transportation, and medications, at the point of care. Providers can seamlessly refer patients to community health workers and local agencies from within their native Expanse workflows, ensuring a coordinated, whole-person approach to care.
“Rural hospitals are the heartbeat of their communities,” said Dr. Pimple. “At Newman Regional Health, we are proud to take on that responsibility every day. By listening to our patients and responding to their needs with compassion and innovation, we are building a healthier, stronger future for the people we serve.”
The initiative not only improves care for individual patients but also gives NRH better insight into community-wide challenges—data that can inform future programs and resources.
Learn how Newman Regional Health is leveraging MEDITECH Expanse to bridge gaps in care and strengthen its role as a trusted healthcare partner in east-central Kansas.
Read the full story on Becker’s Hospital Review.
