HJAR Nov/Dec 2025

48 NOV / DEC 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds UAMS Launches Support Group for Women with Gynecologic, Breast Cancers The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced the launch of a support group for women facing gynecologic and breast cancers. The “Let’s GAB (Gynecologic and Breast) Wom- en’s Cancer Support Group” meets in person on the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. in the Barlogie Conference Room located on the 10th floor of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Can- cer Institute at UAMS. The free monthly gathering is designed to pro- vide comfort, connection, and community for women undergoing active treatment for gyneco- logic and breast cancer. Led by licensed UAMS oncology social workers, the group offers a safe space to share experiences, build relationships, and receive understanding and encouragement from others undergoing cancer treatment. No preregistration is required to attend the sup- port group. Participants do not have to be UAMS patients to attend. For questions, patients can call UAMS Oncology Social Work at (501) 603-1612. UAMS Receives $1.3MGrant to Expand Digital Health Access The South Central Telehealth Resource Center, housed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), has received a $1.3 million, four- year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to implement and expand digital health services. The grant, part of the HRSA Telehealth Resource Center Program that supports regional and national telehealth resource centers, will award $325,000 in funding each year through 2029. It will support the center’s ongoing efforts to develop, maintain, and expand digital health services and training for healthcare providers across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. “This continued support from HRSA affirms the value of our mission and the real-world impact of digital health when providers are equipped with the right tools and knowledge,” said Mel- ony Stokes, DNP, RN, the center’s director. “We’re honored to continue serving our region and look forward to the innovation and collaboration this next phase will bring.” The South Central Telehealth Resource Center provides technical assistance, workforce training, and evidence-based resources to equip health- care organizations, providers, and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools they need to imple- ment and expand digital health services. Support is primarily offered on-demand through the cen- ter’s website, LearnTelehealth.org, and through individualized assistance. The center also cre- ates patient-focused materials to facilitate digital health consults, remote patient monitoring, and in-home device use to ensure accessibility and engagement in virtual care. Among its resources are virtual visit billing and reimbursement guides, regional policy updates, educational modules, and webinars. The center, a program of the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, has been contin- uously funded by the HRSA Office for Advance- ment of Telehealth since 2010 and is one of 12 centers in the HRSA-backed National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers. It works collab- oratively with other centers, along with UAMS, HRSA, and other national and regional partners, and maintains five satellite training centers in Arkansas and Tennessee. One critical aspect of the center’s work is serv- ing rural and medically underserved communities, which often face limited transportation, inconsis- tent access to specialty care, and high rates of chronic illness. By increasing adoption of digital health services, and improving training and digital literacy, the center works to ensure equal access to healthcare regardless of geography. Last year, the center co-hosted the inaugu- ral Telehealth Implementation Bootcamp, a nine-month program designed to help health- care organizations nationwide expand their dig- ital health services. Following a two-day training kickoff event, the center hosted monthly webinars on reimbursement, sustainability, and other top- ics and concluded with a wrap-up showcase in June. Planning for the next Bootcamp cohort was expected to begin in the fall of 2025. hello pregnancy App by Baptist Health NowAvailable The hello pregnancy app by Baptist Health is now available. The app is designed for someone thinking about getting pregnant or already enjoy- ing life with their little one. hello pregnancy features tools to help mothers stay healthy and happy, including an in-app chat option where women can ask a nurse questions and get prompt responses. The free app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. App users will receive personalized reminders and tips on nutrition and exercise, plus advice on managing stress and getting better sleep. They will also have access to insights tailored to where they are in their pregnancy journey. Whether an expecting mother is looking for help with common pregnancy symptoms or tips for preparing for childbirth, hello pregnancy sup- ports and helps women by providing: • Live RN chat: available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. • Personalized daily activities: tailored for expecting mothers, helping to keep them and their babies healthy. • Care options: offers a range of care, from chatting with a nurse to scheduling appointments. • Tailored health insights: personalized health recommendations for an expecting mother’s unique journey. • Detailed sleep tracking: monitors sleep with detailed tracking. Gynecologic Oncologist Lisa Bazzett-Matabele, MD, Joins UAMS Internationally recognized gynecologic oncol- ogist Lisa Bazzett-Matabele, MD, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and also serves as an associate professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology, Bazzett-Matabele brings more than two decades of clinical experi- ence in women’s cancer care and academic lead- ership to her new role at UAMS. She specializes in the treatment of cancers of the female repro- ductive system, including ovarian, uterine, cervi- cal, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Bazzett-Matabele most recently served as head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Botswana, where she led cer- vical cancer training and care delivery. From 2000