Hospital Newsmakers

Marcy Doderer, President and CEO of Arkansas Children’s, has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s 2021 Top 25 Women Leaders in Healthcare. The publication indicates that these 25 leaders are combatting the longstanding imbalance of gender equity at the top rungs of leadership, and that they serve as mentors and create workplaces that embrace diversity and inclusion, all while guiding their organizations through a global pandemic.

In highlighting Doderer’s accomplishments, Modern Healthcare says, “Even as the pandemic was unfolding, Doderer led efforts to get a new five-year strategic plan approved that included goals to dramatically improve health care for children in a state that ranks near the bottom of most national measures. She announced plans to expand community clinics and access to primary care and led efforts to revive an air transport program. During her eight-year tenure, the hospital has seen a 60% drop in healthcare-acquired conditions and an 80% reduction in serious safety events.” Doderer is a member of the Arkansas Hospital Association board.

Chambers Memorial Hospital in Danville recently launched a $3.3 million project for expansion and enhancement of its emergency room. Chambers Memorial CEO Mike McCoy says the project received funding from the CARES Act, which was made available to assist facilities in responding to pandemics. “The project is designed to allow us to more effectively prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus and future pandemics,” he says. The new facility will expand accessibility, provide separate patient areas in the effort to reduce exposure, and offer a waiting room that allows for adequate social distancing. Shannon Hendrix, MS, RD, LD, is the new Senior Vice President/ Chief Administrator for Arkansas Children’s Northwest. She most recently served as Vice President, Clinical/Diagnostic Services with Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock.

The ribbon cutting for a new Outpatient Surgery Center at Baxter Regional Medical Center was held recently, and rather than use the traditional oversized pair of scissors to cut the ribbon, surgeons used scalpels! The new, 24,000-square-foot facility will allow movement of outpatient procedures from the main hospital, which will utilize the space gained for additional operating rooms. The new facility has four operating rooms, and it was constructed to incorporate an additional two operating rooms as needed in the future.

Artist's Rendering: Chambers Memorial Hospital Baxter Regional Medical Center

James Cox, MBA, is the new Chief Executive Officer at Arkansas Continued Care Hospital in Jonesboro. He previously served as Program Director of Behavioral Health Services for the White River Health System.

Just announced: AHA is partnering with 20 other hospital associations to offer valuable leadership guidance through a five-session webinar series. State associations are joining forces to bring this new series to its members at a remarkable value. This Leadership Summit begins April 29 and includes sessions through August 19; cost for the entire series is $75 per link.

Series titles include

1)Telemedicine Post COVID-19, Hospital at Home, and Expansion of Technology. 2) Diversity & Inclusion. 3) Supply Chain Excellence in the Post-Pandemic World. 4) The Emotional Impact of COVID-19: Leading your

Team and Culture Past Collective COVID PTSD to an

Emotionally Healthy Workforce. 5) Rural Healthcare Delivery in Recovery. For more, go to arkhospitals.org.