A focus on health

You should know a few things about health care in Northeast Arkansas.

For starters, the level of care in the region from major health care organizations like St. Bernards, NEA Baptist, UAMS and ARcare is pretty unparalleled. It should be a source of pride and, for sure, a source for future investment for the region going forward.

While these large organizations are having an incredible impact on saving and improving lives, there is a lot happening behind the scenes and before your eyes that you may not fully grasp.

Here is a laundry list of good things unfolding in Northeast Arkansas, beginning with NYITCOM:

• The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine has a $44.6 million impact to the economy in Northeast Arkansas, according to a study conducted by the Parker Strategy Group. The study found that the school supports 263 jobs and generates $2.2 million in additional state and local taxes.

• NYITCOM at A-State students contributed a total of $7.6 million as a result of their spending, including $5.2 million direct economic impact, $1.1 million indirect economic impact, and $1.3 million induced economic impact.

• The medical school’s operations and capital spending contributed a total of $36.1 million as a result of operational spending. This figure includes $19.4 million direct economic impact, $6.4 million indirect economic impact, and $10.2 million induced economic impact.

• Having just graduated its sixth class, NYITCOM at A-State is accredited for 115 medical students per year in its Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program. Additional offerings such as its Master of Biomedical Sciences and Emergency Medical Services programs brought the Arkansas enrollment to 567 students in the fall of 2024.

• The Jonesboro-based medical school has enjoyed a 100% cumulative placement rate through the National Residency Matching Program. Approximately 65% of NYITCOM at A-State graduates have pursued primary care specialties, which is notable considering the significant needs Arkansas and the Greater Mississippi Delta region face in those practices.

Four initiatives coming online promise to do even more for the region’s health care needs:

• The University of Arkansas received $10 million from the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) to create and implement a central Crisis Hub and Crisis Continuum that will serve Arkansans with behavioral and mental health needs.

• Seven areas of the state will serve as pilot sites for the adult and adolescent crisis care continuum. The pilot sites will be in El Dorado, Monticello/Warren, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Helena and Little Rock. The pilot sites will open in stages from late 2025 or early 2026 and all of the sites will be running by mid-2026.

• The Arkansas Health Care Association (AHCA), which represents the state’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities, has a new initiative that will launch this summer and include a location in Jonesboro.

• It will be known as the AHCA School of Nursing LPN Program. There will be campuses in Rogers, Jonesboro and Little Rock with the first cohort taking 24 enrollees at each location for a total of 72 students. The goal is to provide a training program for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to climb the professional career ladder and obtain advanced degrees and subsequent pay beyond the entry-level role they serve.

• CNAs typically provide the most hands-on care to patients in health care settings. The new school of nursing will allow those nurse assistants to earn MA-C (medication assistant-certified), LPN (licensed practical nurse) and eventually RN (registered nurse) certifications.

• The industry as a whole is in need of more nurses at every level, but it’s particularly difficult with work schedules for a CNA to earn an advanced certification. The average pay for a CNA in Arkansas is roughly $17.13 per hour. An MA-C makes $20.07 per hour, and an LPN earns $29.60 per hour.

• Equipped with $42 million in new funding, the state of Arkansas, through hospital systems, medical clinics and its own network of community health centers is about to embark on a major push to improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas. 

• New legislation passed in the recent legislative session will allow for presumptive Medicaid eligibility for likely candidates; unbundling of payments throughout the pregnancy period so more doctors can see patients more quickly; reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers; and higher reimbursement rates for Medicaid deliveries.

• Couple this push with assistance from nonprofits like Heartland Forward, which will create the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice to complement state efforts and help track statistics. Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health has already compiled two new digital resource guides. “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Guide” and the “Guide for New, Expecting Moms” were created to help parents understand their rights, access care earlier and more confidently advocate for themselves and their babies.

• Finally, the new veterinary school that A-State is launching in the fall of 2026 will provide animal health care that is much needed. The $33.2 million, 56,000-square-foot facility will feature laboratories, a surgical skills training area, flexible classrooms, study spaces, and around-the-clock clinical skills practice areas. It will one of only 35 veterinary schools in the U.S.

Collectively, all of this health care activity signals a region that is building on a very solid foundation for the future. Citizens should take comfort in knowing that these initiatives and entities are entering a level of maturity that has them positioned to take even bigger steps towards serving the health needs of Northeast Arkansas. 

Editor’s note: Roby Brock is the Editor-in-Chief of Talk Business & Politics. He hosts Talk Business & Politics and Capitol View and a radio program three times a week on KASU.