HMA Opens Service Center in Fort Smith

Gov. Mike Beebe was on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday to mark the opening of a healthcare service center employing 350 people in the River Valley.

Health Management Associates Inc.’s new facility, the Arkansas Regional Service Center, is at 4600 Towson Avenue in the former Phoenix Expo Center in Fort Smith.

HMA is the parent company of Sparks Health System in Fort Smith and Summit Medical Center in Van Buren. HMA owns and operates 71 hospitals in 17 states.

HMA vice president Shannon White said the 96,000-SF center could accommodate up to 600 employees, giving the company room to grow.

It will support 23 hospitals in eight states, 150 physicians, an ambulance company and rural health clinics.