Newton Medical Center is a 103-bed, not-for-profit facility dedicated to providing health care services to residents of Harvey and surrounding counties. Formed in 1988, Newton Medical Center has evolved from an established tradition of excellence.

More than a century ago, Dr. John T. and Lucena Axtell founded Newton’s first hospital, Axtell Hospital. For four decades, the Axtells served the community until they passed on the hospital to the Kansas Christian Missionary Society. At that time, the name was changed to Axtell Christian Hospital, a Christian Church/Disciples of Christ organization.

At the turn of the century, Reverend David Goerz and Sister Frieda Kaufman founded Bethel Deaconess Hospital as a mission of the Mennonite Church. Mennonite deaconesses remained involved with the hospital’s operations until 1983. On Jan. 1, 1988, the two hospitals merged to become Newton Medical Center.