HJAR Sep/Oct 2019

62 SEP / OCT 2019  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds The donation puts Mercy close to a total of $20 million in philanthropic support toward a goal of $25 million in the campaign. “We’re so grateful to the McMillon family for seeing the importance of cardiac care and health- care in general in Northwest Arkansas,” said Clark Ellison, regional vice president of Mercy Health Foundation. “We are fortunate they want to be part of helping us advance health care, such an important cornerstone to sustainable growth in our community.” Located within the new tower’s fourth floor, the McMillon Family Heart Unit represents one of Mercy’s most essential services to the commu- nity. The unit will include 36 cardiac inpatient beds, nurses’ stations, family consultation rooms, friends and family waiting area, children’s playroom, and a heart center conference room. The center enhances an already robust program of cardiac care anchored by Mercy Clinic Cardi- ology and the Mercy Heart and Vascular Center. “It’s an honor for Mercy to be the recipient of the McMillons’ generosity,” said Eric Pianalto, pres- ident of Mercy Hospital. “Their gift will have a lasting impact and enhance our ability to address the growing need for cardiovascular services in the area.” Over a 12-month period, Mercy cared for 147 open heart surgery patients in the hospital and another 30,000 in outpatient and ambulatory settings. The need for cardiovascular services is expected to grow in the next five to seven years. Mercy’s multiyear expansion, announced in April of 2016, will invest nearly a quarter-billion dollars in capital projects and equipment. The expansion of facilities and services comes with the creation of 1,000 healthcare jobs, including 100 physicians. The largest piece of the expansion is a $141 mil- lion, seven-story hospital tower that will increase capacity from 200 to 350 beds. Additionally, the expansion brought the addition of seven new clin- ics, including Mercy Springdale, a multispecialty facility with a freestanding emergency department set to open in September. The objective of the expansion is to increase access to vitally needed medical services through- out Northwest Arkansas, advance economic development, and improve quality of life. The McMillons, who live in Bentonville, have two sons. Doug McMillon has been president and chief executive officer of Walmart since 2014. He serves on the board of directors for Walmart, The Consumer Goods Forum, U.S.-China Business Council, and Crystal Bridges Museum of Amer- ican Art. Baptist Health’s Dr. Chandra Lingisetty Receives Top 100 Healthcare Leaders Award Dr. Chandra Lingisetty, an internal medicine spe- cialist at Baptist Health, recently received the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders Award, conferred at the International Forum on Advancements in Health- care, in Las Vegas. Lingisetty, a graduate of Harvard University, attended the conference with more than 1,000 healthcare industry experts from around the world. The Top 100 Healthcare Leaders Award was given based on a number of criteria, including overall reach, industry impact, spirit of innovation, future readiness, and market demand. n Dr. Chandra Lingisetty, an internal medicine specialist at Baptist Health, recently received the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders Award, conferred at the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare, in Las Vegas.