Via Christi Finalizes Acquisition of Former Rock Regional Hospital Facility Property in Derby, Kansas

Via Christi has officially announced the completion of its property acquisition of the former Rock Regional Hospital, a 90,000-square-foot facility located in Derby, Kansas. Legally closing this real estate transaction allows the organization to pivot immediately into the operational readiness and network integration phase.

This milestone reflects Via Christi's unwavering commitment to the growth and long-term success of its Kansas market, as well as its dedication to extending its faith-based Mission to Derby and the greater Wichita community.

While Via Christi legally owns the property, now named Ascension Via Christi St. Peter, a significant amount of foundational integration work is required before the hospital can safely open its doors to patients. To ensure the property completely aligns with Via Christi's clinical quality and safety standards, the organization anticipates welcoming its first patients to this location in summer 2027.

The name St. Peter is in honor of St. Peter the Apostle, whose name translates to "rock," reflecting Via Christi's commitment to providing a solid, stable foundation of high-quality healthcare services for the region. It also pays homage to Fr. Jean Pierre (Peter) Medaille, SJ, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose historical ministry established Via Christi's health system and continues to inspire its ministry of compassionate care.

Over the coming months, dedicated teams will work behind the scenes to update the facility's physical property, transition medical equipment and fully integrate its infrastructure into the broader Via Christi network. Additionally, later this year, human resources teams will launch workforce planning efforts to explore local employment opportunities and prioritize the potential rehiring of qualified former staff of the hospital, as appropriate.

"Access to care close to home is essential for healthy communities," said Christopher Dodson, chief strategy officer for Via Christi. "By finalizing this acquisition, we are taking a definitive step toward restoring vital healthcare services in Derby with the intent that this facility can once again serve patients and families for years to come. While there is more work ahead, we are encouraged by the opportunity to reestablish care in a way that is sustainable and responsive to community needs."

Additional details regarding timing, specific clinical services and employment application pipelines will be shared as operational plans are finalized.