Holton Community Hospital Awarded $100,000 Patterson Family Foundation Grant to Expand Rehabilitation Services
HOLTON, Kan. — Holton Community Hospital has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation to expand and enhance rehabilitation services for patients throughout Jackson County and northeast Kansas. Approved on June 19, 2026, the grant will support the hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Excellence Project, an initiative focused on increasing access to care, modernizing equipment, improving patient privacy, and helping patients safely transition from hospital to home.
The award comes at a time of significant growth for Holton Community Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department. In 2025, the department recorded more than 14,147 rehabilitation visits and delivered care through a team of 16 rehabilitation professionals serving both inpatient and outpatient therapy patients.
Meeting a Growing Community Need
Holton Community Hospital’s rehabilitation team provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dry needling, and specialized Parkinson’s disease treatment through the nationally recognized LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD programs.
As demand has increased, the department has reached full capacity. Currently, patients may experience a two-week wait for therapy services. For individuals recovering from surgery or serious illness, those delays can occur during a critical stage of recovery. Early intervention often plays an important role in helping patients regain strength, mobility, and independence.
In addition, the department does not currently have a dedicated environment where therapists can evaluate how patients perform everyday tasks before returning home. This can make it more difficult to prepare patients for real-world situations following hospitalization.
The Heart of Rural Healthcare
“At Holton Community Hospital, we don’t just treat patients—we care for neighbors, friends, and family,” said Carrie Lutz, Chief Executive Officer.
“A 78-year-old farmer who has lived in Jackson County his entire life faces a choice after hip surgery: travel an hour to a larger facility where he’ll be one patient among hundreds, navigating busy highways and unfamiliar hallways, or stay here, where his physical therapist knows his farm has three porch steps, where his occupational therapist remembers he lives alone, and where every staff member calls him by name. This is the heart of rural healthcare, and it’s worth investing in.”
How the Grant Will Improve Patient Care
The Patterson Family Foundation funding will help address these challenges through strategic investments in both equipment and facility improvements. The project will expand rehabilitation capacity, improve patient experience, and strengthen access to care close to home.
Most importantly, the project will help ensure that patients can begin therapy sooner and receive enhanced services without traveling outside the community.
Modern Equipment and Expanded Treatment Space
The grant will fund several key equipment upgrades, including:
- Bariatric-capable NuStep T6 Max
- Total Body Exerciser
- New fluidotherapy unit
- Modular ramp system for mobility training
These upgrades will expand evidence-based treatment options and allow therapists to serve a broader range of patients, including individuals with mobility limitations and bariatric care needs. The new equipment will also replace aging devices that have supported thousands of patient treatments over the years.
Additionally, the project includes renovations within the rehabilitation department. The hospital will convert underutilized charting space into private treatment rooms and replace curtain partitions with more permanent treatment areas. As a result, patients will experience greater privacy, comfort, and dignity during therapy sessions.
Creating a Simulated Home Environment
A cornerstone of the project is the creation of a simulated home environment within existing patient care space.
The area will feature:
- A functional kitchen
- Accessible bathroom
- Furnished bedroom
- Living area
- Realistic stairway
Therapists will use this space to help patients practice everyday tasks before discharge. Furthermore, the environment will allow care teams to evaluate a patient’s readiness to return home safely and independently.
By recreating common household activities in a controlled setting, patients can build confidence while therapists identify potential safety concerns before discharge. Ultimately, this approach supports safer transitions from hospital to home and may help reduce complications after discharge.
Building on Rehabilitation Success
Holton Community Hospital’s rehabilitation team has built a strong reputation for delivering personalized, compassionate care close to home.
Services include:
- Orthopedic and sports injury rehabilitation
- Post-surgical therapy
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Balance and dizziness treatment
- Hand therapy
- Lymphedema management
- Cognitive assessments
- Video swallow studies
- Dry needling therapy
- Pediatric therapy services
- Parkinson’s disease treatment through LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD
The department serves patients of all ages and works closely with each individual to create customized treatment plans that support recovery and long-term independence.
Looking Ahead
“Receiving this grant is a tremendous opportunity for our rehabilitation team and the patients we serve,” said Kristi Roush, Senior Director of Ancillary Services. “Our therapists already provide exceptional care to thousands of patients each year. This investment allows us to build upon that success by reducing wait times, modernizing equipment, improving privacy, and creating a realistic environment where patients can safely prepare for life after rehabilitation. Ultimately, these improvements will help more individuals recover, maintain their independence, and receive the high-quality care they deserve close to home.”
Planning and design work are currently underway. While project timelines are still being finalized, hospital leaders anticipate rehabilitation services will continue without interruption throughout construction and implementation.
Holton Community Hospital is grateful to The Patterson Family Foundation for its investment in rural healthcare and its commitment to helping communities thrive through innovative, patient-centered care.
This project is supported in part by a 2026 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was the grant award?
Holton Community Hospital received a $100,000 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation.
What will the funding support?
The grant will support equipment modernization, new private treatment spaces, and the development of a simulated home environment for rehabilitation patients.
Will rehabilitation services remain open during the project?
Yes. Hospital leaders currently anticipate no interruption to rehabilitation services while planning and construction activities take place.
Who will benefit from the project?
The project will benefit post-surgical patients, seniors, individuals recovering from illness or injury, patients with mobility limitations, and others who rely on rehabilitation services close to home.
Why is the project important?
The rehabilitation department currently operates at full capacity and maintains a waitlist for services. The project will help increase capacity, improve access, and provide additional resources to support patient recovery and independence.
