Health Facilities in Kearney, NE, Provide Patients With Leading-Edge Services
Kearney’s population continues to increase, and a key factor driving it is the growth and development of local hospitals. Both CHI Health Good Samaritan and Kearney Regional Medical Center provide leading-edge and trusted medical services to residents and surrounding neighbors.
New Cancer Center
Founded in 2014, Kearney Regional Medical Center delivers physician-led, community-focused care. The acute care facility became part of Bryan Health in 2022, enhancing access to resources while preserving local leadership. Since opening its doors, the staff has grown from 50 employees to nearly 900. It is also home to Platte Valley Medical Clinic, which has delivered comprehensive care to families in central Nebraska and northern Kansas at one convenient address for over 60 years and operates in more than 20 communities across the region.
Hope and healing are in the air for patients battling cancer, with the recent opening of the 25,000-square-foot Kearney Cancer Center. Located between the medical center and Yanney Heritage Park, the site offers outpatient radiation and medical oncology, infusion and chemotherapy services, state-of-the-art linear accelerator, on-site CT and PET (painless) diagnostic imaging and national oncology clinical trial access. The cutting-edge technology and personalized care are all major pluses for those receiving treatment.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of remarkable growth that reflects our unwavering commitment to serving our community,” says Kearney Regional Medical Center CEO Doug Koch. “Our journey is inspired by a deeply rooted relationship with the people we serve. It’s more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about building trust, fostering connections and enhancing lives.”
Other developments include a $30 million in-patient, two-story tower that will increase beds from 93 to 118. The first floor will include an infusion clinic, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, and pulmonary function testing. The second story is designed for orthopedic needs.
Kearney Regional Medical Center is also home to general and interventional cardiology emergency care, with a Level III trauma center, women and children’s health, and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit.
Excellence in Treatment
CHI Health Good Samaritan is a 236-bed regional referral center, offering top-level care, including the region’s only Level II trauma center, advanced Level II neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, primary stroke center with inpatient rehabilitation and a hospital-based emergency medical service. Other services include advanced imaging, leading-edge surgical care and AirCare – the state’s longest-operating medical helicopter air ambulance – ensuring a rapid response across a vast area.
Exciting new developments are ahead for 2026 with the planned expansion and renovation of the hospital’s Maternity Center and Interventional Cardiology Suites. A private foundation donated $12.6 million to the CHI Health Good Samaritan Foundation, the group’s largest single gift to date, dedicated to advancing women’s health in the region. The redesigned Maternity Center will include 11 large birthing suites with partner sleeping areas, a whirlpool bath and more. Hospital officials say cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, including during pregnancy and postpartum, and often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. The gift will ensure the best care for new mothers and the unique heart health needs of women.
Renowned joint replacement specialists, exceptional cardiac and vascular surgeons, a trailblazing radiation oncologist and a full range of other outstanding physicians are the hallmark of Good Samaritan. They are nationally recognized for excellence, including Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award for 2024-26 and the American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence.
Good Samaritan recently provided nearly $10.2 million to benefit the community, underscoring its dedication to health care access.
“Our dedication to quality and continuing growth ensures our region has access to advanced services – typically found in larger cities – while patients remain close to their loved ones and the comforts of home,” says Kimber Bonner, vice president, Patient Care Services.
Children’s Nebraska Prioritizes Mental Health
The only one of its kind in the state, Children’s Nebraska Behavioral Health Urgent Care-Kearney dedicates itself to helping children and adolescents up to age 22 who are showing signs of behavioral or mental health crises.
“By introducing behavioral health urgent care, we’re helping families recognize they don’t have to wait until they’re in crisis to receive help,” says Renee Rafferty, senior vice president for behavioral health and wellness. “We’re creating a culture where seeking care early is encouraged and supported, removing barriers, reducing stigma and meeting families with the right level of support before challenges escalate into emergencies.”
Since opening in 2024, Children’s Nebraska has seen more than 250 patients and facilitated more than 1,000 visits. Operating hours are weekdays from 1 to 8 p.m.
Children’s Nebraska offers earlier intervention across mental health care through triage and screening, crisis stabilization and psychiatric evaluation. It is the first organization worldwide to use innovative hologram technology, a tool bringing a human-led focus, an immersive experience and a warm, personal touch to telehealth care interactions.
McKenna’s Rae of Hope Foundation provided additional support with a $50,000 donation. On its website, Rhonda Johnson, whose daughter, McKenna Rae, died by suicide at 16, writes, “Everyone has a life worth living … I miss my daughter every second of every day. Help us fight this completely preventable epidemic.”
Todd Schirmer, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, says, “The board felt this perfectly fit with our mission. Investing in this facility and continuing to champion mental health awareness, educating and promoting resources available was the best use of our efforts.”