HJAR Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2019 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com recruited providers to the area, including a gen- eral surgeon, urologist, family practitioner, ENT, and four family nurse practitioners. He also led improvements in ED performance and customer satisfaction, as well as reductions in the serious safety event rate from 0.97 to zero with no sentinel or serious safety events during the past four years. “I am excited to join Forrest City Medical Center. After meeting some of the leadership team, I’ve been impressed by their commitment to quality and patient-centered healthcare. The hospital is poised for growth in the coming years with highly experienced medical staff and strong community support,” said Ballard. “I look forward to moving to Forrest City and becoming an active member of the community. As an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoor lover, Forrest City will be a great fit!” John earned a PhD of Philosophy, Epidemiol- ogy from Walden University, a Masters of Busi- ness Administration in Finance from Alcorn State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Louisiana State University. Mercy Offers Free Monthly Medicare Seminars Medicare has many confusing choices, so Mercy Fort Smith is offering help to navigate the process. Medicare – Getting Started is a free educa- tional seminar from 2-4 p.m. the first Tuesday each month at the Fort Smith Public Library branch at 8100 Dallas St. The seminars are for those soon to become eligible for Medicare. Sessions will include information on parts A & B and part D (prescription coverage) and infor- mation on the differences between part C (Medi- care Advantage) and Medicare supplement insur- ance plans. For more information, or to register, contact Denise Tanner at  denise.tanner@mercy.net  or (479) 314-4734. 16th Annual CHI St. Vincent Golf Classic Raises More Than $120,000 to Support Compassionate Care in Arkansas The 16th annual CHI St. Vincent Golf Classic, presented by Chreyton Electric, raised more than $120,000 to help support the hospital’s mission to provide excellent and compassionate care for more Arkansans. Thirty four teams competed in in caring for patients who are hospitalized, rather than those in a clinical or outpatient setting. OB hospitalists are required to have additional training such as advanced fetal assessment and monitoring. The program, not intended to replace a wom- an’s regular obstetrician, is offered in partnership with the OB Hospitalist Group, which staffs and manages programs throughout the United States. Dr. Andrew Riché, a board-certified OB-GYN and chief of staff for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, at far right, is shown with four of the eight OB hospitalists. John Ballard is Forrest City Medical Center CEO Forrest City Medical Center announced that John Ballard, PhD, FACHE, is the new chief exec- utive officer of Forrest City Medical Center. “John is highly experienced in hospital opera- tions and uniquely qualified to serve as CEO of Forrest City,” said Dr. Sudesh Banaji, board chair. “With nearly 15 years of healthcare experience in rural areas, he understands the collaborative nature of healthcare in communities like ours.” Most recently, Ballard served as CEO of Ken- tucky River Medical Center. During his tenure, he “The hospitalist program underscores our com- mitment to quality care for pregnant women,” said Dr. Andrew Riché, a board-certified OB-GYN and chief of staff for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. “It provides peace of mind for our patients by pro- viding additional expertise at a moment’s notice.” OB hospitalists will deliver babies if a patient’s physician is unable to be present. In addi- tion, these doctors will provide several services, including: * Providing care in times of emergency prior to the arrival of a patient’s physician. * Supporting the care of high-risk pregnancy patients. * Delivering babies for patients who don’t have an obstetrician. As part of the program, Mercy Childbirth Cen- ter in the Labor & Delivery building on the main hospital campus will have an Obstetric Emergency Department with four rooms dedicated to emer- gency care at any gestational age. Eight OB hos- pitalists have been hired. “The on-site availability of the hospitalists improves the quality and safety of women’s health care, reduces risks, and supports local physicians and hospital nursing staffs,” Dr. Riché said. Hospitalists are physicians who specialize solely Mercy Fort Smith OB hospitalists