HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2024 31 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com indicators; evaluating Medicaid reimbursement rates; implementing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women; creat- ing a pathway for Medicaid provider types and reimbursements for both doulas and commu- nity health workers; expanding the number of obstetrics and gynecology residencies in Arkan- sas; and developing a maternal health education and advertising campaign. “As someone who has spent her career tak- ing care of Arkansas women, I am inspired by the many conversations this committee started and the actions we will take as a result,” said Kay Chandler, MD, Arkansas surgeon general. “It will take efforts from many different groups across the state to move the needle, and I believe we’ve put together a road map to make that happen.” The report also details a number of activities that have already been completed or are under- way, including holding stakeholder meetings in five pilot counties that had high rates of women receiving no prenatal care, developing a Trans- forming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model grant application, and reviewing several key Medicaid processes tied to maternal care. Mercy, AliceWalton Foundation Announce $700MPartnership Mercy, a nonprofit hospital system, and the Alice L. Walton Foundation announced a $700 million, 30-year partnership to improve access to healthcare. The foundation has pledged $350 mil- lion, with Mercy investing $350 million into the ini- tiative which will expand healthcare access. The partnership also includes the Heartland Whole Health Institute, founded by Alice Wal- ton, and the Cleveland Clinic, which will contrib- ute to the expansion of cardiovascular services. With this initiative, much of the focus aims on improving healthcare in northwest Arkansas. Expanded offerings in primary and specialty care, more surgical capabilities, and additional outpa- tient facilities are part if this far-reaching plan. The initiative includes the development of a new cardiac care center on Mercy’s campus in Rogers, Ark. Cleveland Clinic, a leader in cardio- vascular care, will bring its expertise to the new center. In addition to the cardiac center on the Mercy campus, Mercy and Heartland will also be developing an outpatient center in Bentonville with specialty services, including cardiovascular care. Dushyant Ramakrishnan, MD, Joins Teamof Pulmonologists at CHI St. Vincent CHI St. Vincent announced the appointment of Dushyant Ramakrishnan, MD, to its CHI St. Vin- cent Pulmonology and Critical Care practice in Little Rock. Ramakrishnan’s journey in medicine began at the Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in medicine and surgery. He completed an internal medicine residency and a specialized fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. Ramakrishnan’s research has been featured in prominent publications such as the Journal of Cardiac Failure and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Case Reports . The Ameri- can Board of Internal Medicine has awarded him board certifications in internal medicine and pul- monary disease with eligibility for critical care expected later this year. CHI St. Vincent Pulmonology and Critical Care is located at the Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic at 10001 Lile Drive in Little Rock. Baptist Health Stuttgart Campus ClinicWelcomes OB- GYNAshton Porter, MD Ashton Porter, MD, recently joined the team at Baptist Health Stuttgart Campus Clinic-A Service of Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart as an obstetrician-gynecologist. Porter received a Doctor of Medicine and res- idency training from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She specializes in women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth. “As an OB-GYN provider, I am committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate care for women’s health needs throughout their lives, from adolescence through menopause,” Porter said. “I strive to create a safe and non-judgmental space where patients feel comfortable discussing their health concerns openly.” Baptist Health Stuttgart Campus Clinic con- nects patients from Stuttgart and surrounding communities with the quality care they need, for whatever stage of life they’re in. The clinic, at 1703 North Buerkle, Suites 2, 3, 4, C, is open Monday- Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. It is located on the cam- pus of Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart. CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center Receives National Accreditation fromACS CoC CHI St. Vincent announced that the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center has been awarded accreditation by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC). Accreditation by the CoC is given only to facili- ties that are committed to providing high-quality cancer care and successfully undergo a rigorous evaluation process in compliance with CoC stan- dards. ACS CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer by setting and raising standards. Dushyant Ramakrishnan, MD Ashton Porter, MD