HJAR Sep/Oct 2020

58 SEP / OCT 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds UAMS Medical Center Named Center of Excellence for Obstetric Anesthesia The Division of Obstetric Anesthesia in the Col- lege of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been designated a Center of Excel- lence by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP). This prestigious status is awarded to institutions that demonstrate the highest standards of obstet- ric anesthesia care. UAMS is the only center in Arkansas with the designation. Nationally, UAMS Medical Center joins the ranks of hospitals like Johns Hopkins, Northwest- ern, Stanford, New York Presbyterian, Tufts, Duke, and NYU. NWAHealthcare Providers LaunchCampaign to Increase Awareness of COVID-19 Pandemic At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, North- west Arkansas healthcare providers quickly mobi- lized and collaborated to develop unified mes- saging and ensure the region is prepared for a COVID-19 surge. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, North- west Arkansas healthcare providers – in collab- oration with the Northwest Arkansas Council, community officials, leaders, and influencers – launched a Northwest Arkansas-focused public service announcement (PSA) campaign entitled Safe and Strong.  This multi-channel campaign provides critical community-focused messaging around social dis- tancing, surface cleanliness, personal hygiene, and masking. “COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives in so many ways,” said Martine Pollard, executive direc- tor, community and public relations with Mercy. Pollard has developed resources and communica- tions in her role as liaison between the Northwest Arkansas healthcare providers. “Our hope is that in the midst of this COVID-19 surge that the PSAs will raise more awareness of the pandemic by pro- viding critical messaging to educate, protect, and support our communities across the region.” Northwest Arkansas Council President and CEO Nelson Peacock expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Northwest Arkansas healthcare pro- viders. “This coalition of leaders across our health- care systems has provided valuable resources and guidance to address this public health emergency. The business community’s generosity, compas- sion, and commitment to do good is both inspir- ing and essential in this critical time of need.” The following creative assets were developed: • 30-second Northwest Arkansas-focused video to be used in several platforms • Social graphics, available in both Eng- lish and Spanish, to inform the commu- nity about the steps they can take to pro- tect themselves and slow of the spread of coronavirus. • PSAs featuring local officials, community leaders, and influencers are in develop- ment communicating the most important ways the region can protect themselves and those most at risk Dr. David Slay Appointed ProgramDirector for Internal Medicine Residency Program at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs has appointed Dr. David Slay as program director of the new Inter- nal Medicine Residency Program. Slay’s exten- sive leadership and administrative experience will help establish and grow the new residency pro- gram, part of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs’ com- mitment to train the future physicians of South- west Arkansas.  “Dr. Slay has shown himself to be a dedicated physician who is loved by his patients,” said CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Vice President of Operations Crystal Bohannan. “We are fortunate he has agreed to help lead the new residency pro- gram at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs.” Slay, who has served as chief of staff at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for the past three years and as a physician leader for more than a decade, spe- cializes in internal medicine and pediatrics and will continue to see patients at his Hot Springs office. He has served as a preceptor for nurse practi- tioner students as well as medical students, and Slay’s new role with the Internal Medicine Resi- dency Program will include responsibilities for cur- riculum and clinical education, as well as faculty development. “Developing training programs for new physi- cians requires experienced, excellent physicians of Dr. Slay’s caliber to impart knowledge and inspire compassionate care,” said Dr. John Wayne Smith, the designated institutional official in the Office of Graduate Medical Education at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs.  The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medi- cal Education recently conferred the initial accred- itation for CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs to become a residency program Sponsoring Institution. The first medical students began in July of 2019 and the first Internal Medicine Residency class will begin in July of 2020. BryanWilliams Appointed Chief Nurse Executive for CHI St. Vincent CHI St. Vincent has appointed Bryan Williams, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, as the system’s chief nurse executive to provide leadership and coor- dination of nursing practice across the CHI St. David Slay, MD Bryan Williams, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC