Hospital Newsmakers

AHA 2021 Annual Meeting Cancelled

The AHA Board of Directors and the AHA executive team regret to announce the cancellation of the 2021 Annual Meeting. At this time of rising COVID-19 cases, we know our hospital leaders want and need to remain in their communities, serving patients and supporting hospital workers in their facilities.

The Annual Meeting is our opportunity to gather as a community, learn from one another, and reinvigorate our mission; but we believe that canceling the event is the right thing to do during these difficult times. AHA continues to do all it can to support our members in their work, as they continue to care for all Arkansans in the midst of this pandemic. In lieu of the in-person meeting, AHA will once again provide virtual education opportunities, hold giveaways, and find ways to recognize hospitals’ efforts over the last 18 months.

White House Vaccinations Coordinator, Dr. Bechara Choucair, visited the AHA in late July to speak with state hospital leaders about strategies for increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates. Members attending, both in-person and virtually, discussed a variety of ideas for vaccinating people in a number of hospital settings.

Dr. Hui-Ming Chang at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is the recipient of a five-year, $3.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to study how dexrazoxane can protect the heart without hampering the anti-cancer chemotherapy drug doxorubicin's ability to fight cancer. Preventing heart damage is especially important for the long-term survival of cancer patients, especially breast cancer patients.

Hospitals in Arkansas participating in The Chest Pain – MI Registry™ Performance Achievement Award program were recently recognized for consistency in meeting patient care guidelines for AMI patients. CHI St. Vincent Infirmary,

CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital,

and St. Bernards Medical Center earned Platinum Performance Achievement Awards. Baptist Health Fort Smith earned a Silver Performance Achievement Award.

Taren Swindle, PhD, will lead a major new effort by UAMS to reduce cancer by addressing eating habits in early childcare and education settings. The project, supported by a five-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, focuses on reducing cancer through the reduction of obesity in children. The project will reach about 5,000 children and 500 teachers across Arkansas and Louisiana. Washington Regional Medical System held a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting in mid-July for its new J.B. Hunt Transport Services Cancer Support Home. The 9,800 square foot facility is designed to provide hope and comfort for those on their cancer journey. It offers overnight lodging with eight accessible guest suites, a wig and prosthesis boutique, and other support services. Patients receiving cancer care in the Northwest Arkansas area are eligible to utilize the facility free of charge.

Washington Regional Medical System

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s

(HRSA) Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program in midJuly announced the release of $398 million for COVID-19 testing and mitigation from the American Rescue Plan Act. In all, 1,540 small and rural U.S. hospitals are receiving project funding; $9,043,160 will go to 35 small rural hospitals in Arkansas.

Hospital leaders from all parts of the state gathered recently to meet virtually with U.S. Representatives Rick Crawford (1st District), French Hill (2nd District), Steve Womack (3rd District), and Bruce Westerman (4th District). The Congressmen were briefed on the COVID-related surge occurring in Arkansas hospitals; other key legislative topics were also discussed.

IBM Watson Health recognized Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas on its Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list for 2021. The list measures hospitals’ clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience, and financial health, as well as (new to award criteria this year) a measure of hospitals’ contributions to community health with a focus on equity. Baptist Medical Center-Hot Spring County is also one of 20 Top-100 Hospitals to receive the Everest Award, which honors hospitals showing the highest rates of improvement during a five-year period.