UAMS, Helena Hospital announced co-management agreement

A day after announcing it would take over management of a Bryant hospital, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Helena Hospital announced a co-management agreement, pending final approval by the Arkansas Department of Health.

The agreement was approved Thursday by the Helena Hospital Board of Governors.

Under the agreement, the Helena Hospital will retain its assets, operations, and oversight of the hospital. No immediate changes to patient services, hospital staff, or daily operations will result from the agreement.

This agreement will bring direct access to UAMS’ specialists, academic programs, and clinical research in addition to assisting the hospital in identifying opportunities to improve daily operations.

UAMS, the state’s only academic health system, and Helena Hospital have worked together for many years. UAMS operates its East Regional Campus in Helena-West Helena, training primary care resident physicians and providing direct primary and specialty care, geriatric and wellness programs, and youth educational outreach to the Arkansas Delta region.

UAMS East has additional offices in Lake Village and West Memphis.

“UAMS is committed to working alongside community hospitals to improve health and expand access to care across Arkansas,” said C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., UAMS chancellor. “This affiliation with Helena Hospital will strengthen healthcare services in the Delta and help ensure that patients can receive more of the care they need close to home.”

“Our partnership with UAMS reflects a shared commitment to improving the health of the people of the Delta,” said Ed Pat Wright, Pharm.D., of the Helena Health Foundation. “This agreement will help Helena Hospital expand access to high-quality care, strengthen clinical services and create new opportunities to meet the evolving health needs of our patients. We are excited about what this collaboration means for the future of healthcare in our region.”

Helena Hospital is a rural emergency hospital (REH) serving the Mississippi Delta area and its residents. The hospital also operates two Rural Health Clinics located in Helena-West Helena and Marianna.