Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow)
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, today celebrated a major milestone for rural health care access following the Bristow Hospital Authority’s approval of a final lease agreement allowing St. Francis Health System to assume operations of Bristow’s local hospital.
This transition brings one of Oklahoma’s largest and most respected health systems directly into the Bristow community, marking a significant expansion of high-quality, accessible medical care for residents across Creek County and the surrounding area.
Speaker Hilbert said the decision represents years of local effort and state-level work to support rural health infrastructure.
“St. Francis is one of the premier healthcare providers in Oklahoma, and having them in Bristow is a game-changer,” Hilbert said. “This ensures families in our community have reliable, modern care close to home, not 30 or 40 miles away. This is exactly the kind of long-term investment rural Oklahoma deserves.”
State Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, echoed Hilbert’s remarks and praised the partnership for its long-term impact on the region.
“This partnership with St. Francis is a tremendous win for Bristow and for all of Creek County,” Gollihare said. “Reliable, high-quality health care shouldn’t be something rural families have to drive an hour to find. This investment ensures our communities have the medical access they deserve, and I’m grateful for the leadership that brought us to this point.”
The Legislature has helped support the hospital by directing funds through Senate Bill 20XX in 2022, funding a total of $25 million to re-open closed hospitals in rural communities across the state. The Bristow Hospital was among communities selected through a transparent application process Speaker Hilbert championed.
Bristow City Mayor Kris Wyatt emphasized the vital partnership with St. Francis.
“We all understand how essential a hospital is to Bristow’s future,” said Wyatt. “It drives economic development, influences whether new industry chooses to come here, and supports the community’s overall quality of life. If we want to continue growing and providing the standard of living our residents deserve, Bristow must have a hospital. St. Francis has a strong history of delivering excellent health care, and they are an outstanding partner to help meet that need.”
This hospital project will support expanded services, improved patient capacity and upgrades to meet modern rural health care demands. St. Francis Hospital leadership expressed gratitude for the state’s investment and praised lawmakers for prioritizing rural medical infrastructure.
“Saint Francis is proud to continue its investment in the health and well-being of Bristow and the surrounding community. With the opening of Warren Clinic Bristow in 2023 and now the transition to operate the local hospital, this partnership reinforces our shared vision for exceptional healthcare in rural Oklahoma,” said Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and CEO of Saint Francis Health System. “This is another important step in building a lasting relationship between Saint Francis and the people of Bristow—one that will grow and evolve to meet the community’s needs for years to come.”
Yesterday’s action in Bristow comes as St. Francis in Tulsa recently received Trauma I designation , made possible by the partnership with OSU medical center established through the Legislature during the 2025 session. This major development advanced under Speaker Hilbert and Senator Gollihare’s leadership.
“Healthy communities make for a stronger Oklahoma,” Hilbert said. “Communities across the state are seeing long-overdue progress, and this is just the beginning.”
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