St. Bernards receives grant to test for COVID throughout Northeast Arkansas

St. Bernards Health System has received a $127,000 grant to expand its healthcare capabilities fighting COVID-19 in Northeast Arkansas.

The grant, administered by the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas to the St. Bernards Development Foundation, will help fund the conversion of emergency department treatment rooms into negative-pressure rooms for improved infection control and respiratory treatment at St. Bernards Five Rivers in Pocahontas, Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge and CrossRidge Community Hospital in Wynne.

Funds will also help St. Bernards purchase testing equipment for faster diagnosis and treatment of patients who have COVID-19 symptoms.

St. Bernards Senior Vice President of Administrative Services Kevin Hodges said Northeast Arkansas needs these types of services.

“Our capabilities at St. Bernards will improve greatly with these additions, especially to help those most impacted by COVID-19,” Hodges said. “COVID-19 has not only placed a significant strain on our healthcare system’s capabilities, it has also strained us economically.”