HJAR Jan/Feb 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JAN / FEB 2022 21 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com to stay healthy,” said Dallas Mudd, executive director of Arkansas 211. “Our 211 operators work in communities across Arkansas. People needing help can simply phone 211 and we will talk with the caller about their situation.” Lyft services are available Monday through Fri- day, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and while grant funding lasts. Patrick Paullus, MD, Joins CHI St. Vincent Neurosurgery Clinic in Hot Springs Patrick Paullus, MD, has joined the team of neurosurgeons at the CHI St. Vincent Neurosur- gery Clinic in Hot Springs. The team specializes in spine surgery and brain surgery and also offers extensive help with aneurysm and stroke and an array of other conditions. Paullus attended medical school at the Univer- sity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dal- las. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The CHI St. Vincent Neurosurgery Clinic is part of the CHI St. Vincent Medical Group, a multi-spe- cialty network that connects primary care doctors with their colleagues in surgery, cardiology and many other medical fields. Paullus is now seeing patients at the CHI St. Vincent Neurosurgery Clinic located at 1 Mercy Lane, Suite 502 in Hot Springs. ACCH-J Signs Affiliation Agreement with NYITCOMat A-State to TrainMedical Students New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University and Arkansas Continued Care Hospital of Jonesboro have reached an affiliation agree- ment that will allow NYITCOM’s student doctors to train at ACCH-J facilities during their third and fourth years of medical school. “We are extremely appreciative of Arkan- sas Continued Care Hospital of Jonesboro for partnering with us to train future physicians,” said Amanda Deel, DO, associate dean of aca- demic affairs at NYITCOM at A-State. “ACCH-J will provide outstanding educational opportuni- ties for our student doctors to learn in a unique medical environment, and we are thrilled ACCH- J has joined us in our efforts to improve access to health care in this region through medical education.” Arkansas Continued Care Hospital of Jones- boro is a 44-bed, long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) that treats patients requiring prolonged acute treatment due to medically complex condi- tions. Patients typically come to ACCH-J follow- ing an ICU stay at a short-term acute care hospi- tal when recovery is expected to require several weeks, but ACCH-J may direct admit under cer- tain circumstances. ACCH-J patients will often discharge to inpatient rehab facilities, skilled nurs- ing facilities or to their home with a variety of sup- portive services. ACCH-J treats patients with a wide variety of conditions such as respiratory fail- ure, infectious diseases and advanced wounds. “We are very excited for the opportunity to partner with NYITCOM for the benefit of the community and the future of healthcare in this region,” said James Cox, CEO of Arkansas Con- tinued Care Hospital of Jonesboro. “LTACHs offer a unique learning environment for physicians in training due to a combination of high patient acu- ity, long lengths of stay, and multiple comorbidi- ties and complications. We are proud to support NYITCOM’s effort to recruit, train, and retain local physician talent.” During the first two years of medical school, stu- dent doctors attend lectures and labs on campus. For years three and four, students work along- side a licensed physician in a hospital or clinic to receive hands-on training. During their third year, medical students spend four to eight weeks train- ing in areas of family medicine, pediatrics, gen- eral surgery, psychiatry Oncologist SindhuMalapati, MD, Joins UAMSWinthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Sindhu Malapati, MD, has joined the breast team in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Insti- tute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS), where she is treating patients with breast cancer. “Dr. Malapati is a great addition to our team at an important time in the Cancer Institute’s growth,” said Michael Birrer, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute director and UAMS vice chancellor. “She’s one of several new young oncologists who have joined us who bring the most current hematology/ oncology knowledge and training. We are excited to add Dr. Malapati to our team.” In addition to treating breast cancer patients, Malapati also serves as assistant professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Division of Medical Oncology. Before joining UAMS, Malapati completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, where she focused on breast oncology. She completed a residency in internal medicine at John H. Stroger Jr. Hos- pital in Chicago. A native of Goa, India, Malapati received her medical degree from Goa Medical College in Bambolim, India. Funding Available fromDHS for Services for Caregivers The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced the Arkansas Lifespan Respite Voucher Program to help caregivers pay for temporary, short-term respite care. Funding is now available to eligible Arkan- sas caregivers of children or adults who reside in the same household as the person receiving care. Families can receive $300 per family within a 90-day period, or quarter. Families can apply for the funding each quarter, potentially getting up to $1,200 in a 12-month period. These funds are available thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the federal Administration for Community Living to fund respite care for full-time caregivers through its Arkansas Lifespan Respite Care program. Lifespan respite care is a short-term break for pri- mary caregivers, ranging from a few hours in the day to a few days. Respite care can be provided in the family home; the home of a neighbor, friend Patrick Paullus, MD