HJAR Sep/Oct 2019

DIALOGUE 12 SEP / OCT 2019 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Chief Editor Smith W. Hartley Can you char- acterize the northwest Arkansas region of the state? What is unique to this region? Please describe the healthcare market in this region. Denten Park Northwest Arkansas is such a gorgeous part of the country—not just the beauty of nature here, but the people as well. The entrepreneurial spirit of this region continues to expand and diversify, making northwest Arkansas one of the most attractive destinations to both run and do business. There is such beauty in the diver- sity of our population as well. I have been impressed with the quality of our commu- nities. People here have great morals, val- ues, and principles, so it’s a great place to live, work, play, and worship, as well as raise your family. Almost everyone here lives by the golden rule, and this makes a huge dif- ference in the culture, the environment, and in the ability to get things done. In terms of healthcare, we are incred- ibly well-served, with three strong health systems. We work well together, and we all work hard to improve access, care, and quality for those we serve. We are all seek- ing to increase our levels of performance, which benefits the patients we serve every single day. This region is unique in that we don’t have the primary care provider short- ages that other communities have. While there are a few shortages in some special- ties, almost everything is taken care of here, so people don’t have to leave for many services. We also have a great education system, from primary schools to community col- leges to the universities. There are incredibly dedicated people in every profession who enhance the quality of life here. Editor How are Northwest Health’s affili- ated hospitals operated uniquely, and what is the value of being in a larger system? Park With 487 beds and a combined active medical staff of more than 500 physicians and approximately 2,500 employees and associates, Northwest Health is the largest health system in northwest Arkansas. Our and receive the care they need. Each hospital serves its specific popula- tion as a community hospital where peo- ple can easily and conveniently access care. Northwest Health has become known for its convenience, with hospitals in five cities, as well as six urgent care centers. We make it very easy for people to see a physician or other health care provider near where they live, work, or go to school or church. We lit- erally have a hospital in your neighborhood, allowing us to be there when you need us most. This allows us to keep our hospitals and campuses a little bit smaller and eas- ier to navigate. Close parking, less walking, and quicker access to the healthcare ser- vices you need make these campuses much more comfortable at a time when you or a loved one are already overwhelmed with system is comprised of five acute care hos- pitals, six urgent care centers, a clinically integrated network, and more than 90 pro- viders affiliated with Northwest Physicians. We provide inpatient, outpatient, medical, surgical, emergency, and diagnostic imag- ing services to patients throughout north- west Arkansas, as well as northeast Okla- homa and southwest Missouri. Northwest Health is part of the Mayo Clinic Care Net- work, a select group of independent health systems that work closely with Mayo Clinic to improve the delivery of health care and better serve their patients and communi- ties. In effect, this allows patients and pro- viders the ability to consult with the Mayo Clinic experts on those rare cases we may not deal with routinely, allowing the patient the opportunity to stay in their community In terms of healthcare, we are incredibly well-served, with three strong health systems. We work well together, and we all work hard to improve access, care, andquality for thosewe serve.We are all seeking to increase our levels of performance, which benefits the patients we serve every single day.