HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

32 NOV / DEC 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs “In the fight against cancer, providing excel- lent care is critical,” CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs President Doug Ross, MD, said. “This accredita- tion is a testament to the entire team at the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center and their commitment to provide the highest standards of comprehensive, compassionate and cutting- edge care to cancer patients in our community.” To earn CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet CoC quality care standards and maintain excellence in delivering comprehen- sive patient-centered care. The CoC accredita- tion challenges cancer programs to enhance their care by providing all patients with a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and supportive services either on-site or by referral, including commu- nity-based resources. As a CoC-accredited institution, the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center is also desig- nated as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Baptist Health, City of North Little Rock Open NewClinic in Rose City Neighborhood On Sept. 4, officials held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Baptist Health Family Clinic-Rose City, which serves residents of North Little Rock and surrounding communities. A partnership between the City of North Lit- tle Rock and Baptist Health, Baptist Health Fam- ily Clinic-Rose City is the first full-service medical clinic in the east part of North Little Rock since a medical office burned in 2013. “In addition to advancing Baptist Health’s mis- sion of providing quality services with Christian compassion, we believe this will help improve healthcare access for residents in the Rose City neighborhood so they can get the care they need closer to home,” said Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health. Jessica Udeogu, MD, will see patients at Baptist Health Family Clinic-Rose City. Udeogu is a resi- dency graduate of the Baptist Health-University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Edu- cation Program. Udeogu earned a master’s degree in Health- care Administration from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a Doctor of Medi- cine from St. James School of Medicine in Arnos Vale, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She is board-certified by the American Board of Fam- ily Medicine. Gia Williams, APRN, also practices at the clinic. Williams received a Master of Science in Nursing from Arkansas State University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chatham University in Pitts- burgh, Penn. She is board-certified by the Ameri- can Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The nearly 6,500-square-foot clinic is located at 4200 E. Washington Ave. in North Little Rock. Representatives from Baptist Health and the City of North Little Rock broke ground on the Rose City neighborhood project in August 2022. “Difficulties in accessing care contributes to the disparities in health care outcomes,” said Stan Kellar, MD, chief medical officer at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. “Through this new clinic, we aim to improve the health of resi- dents in Rose City.” Bank of America provided philanthropic sup- port to help cover the inaugural cost of open- ing the Rose City clinic, including medical and dental pharmacy supplies, x-ray machines and other equipment. In addition, Bank of America’s philanthropic support of other services helps pro- vide essential resources for Baptist Health’s Preg- nancy Wellness Centers, including informational packets for new moms, newborn car seats, pre- ventive health screenings, immunizations, baby monitors, as well as free health screenings and services to thousands of rural Arkansans through Baptist Health’s Mobile Health Unit. When it opens, Baptist Health Family Clinic- Rose City will serve patients Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Matt Rodgers, APRN, Joins Baptist Health Family Clinic-Heber Springs Baptist Health Family Clinic-Heber Springs-A Service of Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs recently welcomed Matt Rodgers, APRN. Rodgers received a nursing education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Cox Col- lege in Springfield, Missouri. “I went into nursing to become a nurse practi- tioner to help people,” Rodgers said. “It is a call- ing from God and a dream I get to live out every day. I want every patient to feel heard and cared for with the utmost respect.” Baptist Health Family Clinic-Heber Springs is located at 1415 Hwy 25B, Suite 3. UAMS College of Nursing’s Undergraduate Programs Ranked 74th in Nation by U.S. News &World Report The University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS) College of Nursing ranks among the nation’s 100 best undergraduate nursing pro- grams, according to a list released by U.S. News & World Report . UAMS climbed 12 spots in the annual ranking, tying for 74th out of 686 programs evaluated by the publication. It was the only Arkansas institu- tion in the top 100. U.S. News & World Report conducted its eval- uations through surveys from top academic and nursing school officials, who rated BSN programs they were familiar with on a scale from 1 to 5. Schools on the list were required to have a bach- elor’s-level accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accredi- tation Commission for Education in Nursing, and they needed to have recently awarded at least 50 BSN degrees. The College of Nursing, established in 1953, also offers a Master of Nursing Science degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Doc- tor of Philosophy in nursing. Baptist Health PACE Expands Services to Hot Springs, Malvern Areas The Baptist Health Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) celebrated the opening of a Matt Rodgers, APRN