HJAR May/Jun 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2023 41 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com Wischelle Williams, APRN Bryan Cearley, PA-C and PINC AI’s 2023 list of 50 Top Cardiovascu- lar Hospitals nationwide and among the top 10 community hospitals in the country. The list rec- ognizes CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs’ significantly higher survival rates associated with cardiac care, including fewer readmissions and complications. “Even as we work with our communities to help address the root causes of heart disease in Arkan- sas, which experiences some of the highest rates nationally, our healing ministry constantly strives to improve the care our patients can expect when they need it,” said CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs President Douglas Ross. “This independent, data- based assessment shows that when our patients come to us from across Southwest Arkansas for cardiovascular care, they will receive some of the best care in the country.” CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs was identified through independent quality analysis provided by PINC AI and reported by Fortune . To select top performers, objective, quantitative research was performed using publicly available data mea- suring cardiac care in the United States. As part of the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute, the cardi- ologists and heart surgeons at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs are leading the way in heartcare and advancing resources for patients in Southwest Arkansas with aggressive diagnostic routines, the latest surgical procedures, and heart health education. CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs was also recently recognized with a national Women’s Choice Award for Heart Care; earned Primary Heart Attack Center, Advanced Primary Stroke Center, and Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certifica- tions from The Joint Commission, making it the only hospital in Arkansas to be recognized in all three areas of care in 2022; and was highlighted in the 2022 Fortune /Merative 100 Top Hospitals List. “Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for all Americans, resulting in nearly 700,000 deaths and $229 billion in added costs each year,” said Leigh Anderson, Premier’s pres- ident of performance services and the leader of PINC AI. “Given the life and death nature of this condition, patients and their loved ones need credible information to help them determine where to go for the best possible care. This objec- tive, data-driven study proves that CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs excels across a range of core perfor- mance indicators, which directly leads to signifi- cantly higher survival rates associated with cardiac care, with fewer readmissions and complications.” NYITCOMat A-State Enjoys 100 % Match Rate New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State Univer- sity (NYITCOM at A-State) is celebrating its Class of 2023 earning a 100% Match rate. Medical schools across the country recently celebrated Match Day, an annual event through which soon-to-be medical school graduates learn where they’ll perform their postgraduate specialty training, known as residency. Every member of the NYITCOM at A-State Class of 2023 matched, a significant achievement for the Jonesboro-based medical school. “It’s incredibly exciting,” said Shane Speights, DO, dean of NYITCOM at A-State. “It speaks to the continual hard work these future physi- cians have done to not only complete medical school, but to make themselves highly-qualified candidates for residency programs throughout the state, region, and country. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of these students. Like- wise, it also speaks to the dedication and com- mitment of the faculty and staff at our medical school.” The Class of 2023 is the fourth class for the Jonesboro-based medical school, which opened in 2016, and every student who has graduated from NYITCOM at A-State has earned postgrad- uate placement. NYITCOM at A-State was established to train medical students to help address a growing vascular surgery, and gastroenterology. Bryan Cearley, certified physician assistant (PA- C), is now APP clinical director of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), providing leadership support in the specialization of enlarged prostate. Cear- ley joined Arkansas Urology in 2018. Prior to that, he served in emergency services, including in the U.S. Army as a flight medic. He continues to serve as a PA on a part-time basis with the Arkansas Army National Guard. Wischelle Williams, advanced practice regis- tered nurse (APRN), is now the APP clinical direc- tor of pelvic health, urodynamics, and overactive bladder. She joined Arkansas Urology in 2016. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Williams worked for nearly 10 years as a registered nurse in various areas, including general surgery, the emergency department, coronary care, and in the neurosurgery/neurology ICU. “At Arkansas Urology, our dedication to provid- ing exceptional urological care is unwavering,” said E. Scot Davis, CEO of Arkansas Urology. “We take great pride in offering a wide range of clini- cal expertise in the field, and by appointing spe- cialized APP clinical directors to lead each area, we are able to enhance that expertise even fur- ther. Our focus is squarely on delivering the best possible care and improving the patient experi- ence every step of the way.” CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Among 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals Nationwide in Fortune and PINCAI List Cardiovascular care at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs earned the hospital a spot on Fortune