Willow Not Weeping

The latest on the possible expansion at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital is that two office buildings totaling 40,000 SF will be constructed on the Johnson campus by February. No announcement has been made, but a July groundbreaking is expected.

Northwest Health System Inc. of Springdale acquired the real estate and 60 percent of the operations at Willow Creek in Johnson for $10.1 million. Bill Bradley, Northwest Health’s CEO, said the 30-bed OB/GYN unit is up to 200 baby delivers per month.

The new buildings will be for a physicians office and a breast treatment center.

In addition, the system plans to jointly own and operate its two ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with surgeons groups. But Bradley said the syndication is ongoing and the ownership split has not yet been determined.

The ASCs will be located on the Springdale campus and at Northwest Plaza Medical which is under construction beside Northwest Medical Center of Benton County in Bentonville (see cover story).

The Bentonville campus has 12 acres it intends to develop into a medical park similar to the one in north Fayetteville.