HJAR May/Jun 2021

28 MAY / JUN 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs NewMedical School to Be Established in Northwest Arkansas as Part of AliceWalton’s Vision forWhole Health Whole Health Institute (WHI), a non-profit organization founded by Alice Walton, today announced plans for a Whole Health School of Medicine and Health Sciences (School of Medi- cine) in Northwest Arkansas. “The Whole Health School of Medicine will help medical students rise to the health challenges of the 21st century through a reimagination of Amer- ican medical education that incorporates men- tal, emotional, physical and spiritual health, the elements of Whole Health, to help people live healthier and happier lives,” said Alice Walton. “The creation of the Whole Health School of Medicine is a step forward in rethinking systems in our society to achieve better health and well- being,” said Tracy Gaudet, MD, Founding Exec- utive Director of the Whole Health Institute. The core leadership team for the new School of Med- icine includes: • Founding Dean Elly Xenakis, MD, formerly vice chair for education, the division chief of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, and residency program director in the Depart- ment of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. • Executive Vice Dean Colleen O’Connor, PhD, formerly associate dean, Curricu- lar Affairs, at Duke University School of Medicine. • Vice Dean for Education Adam Rindfleisch, MD, MPhil, formerly associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Medical Director in Integrative Health at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. The School of Medicine plans to break ground on the construction of a new state-of-the-art edu- cation and training facility in Bentonville, Arkan- sas in 2022 and ultimately matriculate its first class of students in the fall of 2024. The school is seek- ing accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Building evidence-based approaches, the cur- riculum will infuse traditional and conventional medicine with integrative techniques and will include biomedical sciences, clinical training, medical entrepreneurship, research, and a cap- stone with Whole Health principles ingrained throughout. The program is allopathic, mean- ing graduates will receive a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Health Sciences degrees and certificates will be offered, which may include functional nutri- tion, mental health, social work, and health coaching; faculty development in Whole Health approaches; and national certification of existing educational programs that align with the princi- ples and practices of Whole Health. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences will collaborate closely with the healthcare com- munity in Arkansas and beyond and seek clini- cal affiliations with local inpatient and outpatient providers. Discussions are underway for ongoing collaborations with local providers and members of the Northwest Arkansas Council Healthcare Transformation Division which includes Arkansas Children’s Northwest, Community Clinic, Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Medi- cal Center, Washington Regional Medical Cen- ter, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Northwest Arkansas Regional Campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. In 2019, the Northwest Arkansas Council released a report which found that the region lost nearly $1 Billion per year because people went outside the region for high-level specialty care. The council’s plan for addressing this issue included adding 200 additional residency posi- tions, increasing integrative research to attract high-quality physicians and establishing a 4-year medical school. Free, Online Tool fromCHI St. Vincent Heart Institute Assesses Risk for AFib CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute has launched a free, online AFib health risk assessment tool to help Arkansans quickly determine if they may be suffering from the heart arrhythmia known as atrial fibrillation. AFIB affects one in 25 Ameri- cans over age 60 and the World Health Organi- zation has designated it a global epidemic. If left untreated, AFib can lead to serious complications like stroke and heart failure, but now Arkansans can take the first step in managing their heart health with this free, online tool. “Atrial fibrillation is the fastest growing heart rhythm problem in America and it’s a heart rhythm problem that affects people as they age,” said CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute Cardiac Electro- physiologist Thomas Wallace, MD. “Becoming aware of the symptoms is the first step, but then patients at risk should schedule an appointment with their cardiologist to assess their condition and explore options for treatment, which con- tinue to grow.” AFib symptoms can come and go and last between a few minutes or a few hours. Symp- toms of AFib include: • Heart palpitations. • Strong awareness of your heart beating. • Weakness. • Fatigue. • Chest pain, pressure or discomfort. • Dizziness or lightheadedness. • Shortness of breath. • Anxiety. Access the CHI St. Vincent’s free, online AFib risk assessment tool at chistvincent.com/ more-heart. UAMS Rural Telehealth Center Receives $1.5 Million to Evaluate Broadband Pilot Program’s COVID-19 Response The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center has received a $1.5 million federal grant to evaluate the performance of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program in preventing, preparing for and responding to COVID-19. The Health Resources & Services Adminis- tration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Pol- icy awarded the grant for the evaluations in four counties in separate regions of the United States. The center is a part of the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and specializes in the assessment of digital health solutions from effectiveness to financial perspectives. “UAMS has been a leader in digital health for many years, and we are excited to use that expe- rience in determining what methods and tech- nologies can be of best use to rural providers in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Joseph