Healthcare

Rapid COVID tests coming to Walmart, Amazon and Kroger

Walmart is among three large retailers to offer the over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid testing kits as part of President Joe Biden’s plan to expand testing access. The Biden administration said Walmart,…

Gov. Hutchinson clarifies opposition to vaccine mandates; COVID deaths top 7,300

In his 200th press briefing since the pandemic began in Arkansas and on a day in which 36 more COVID-19 deaths were reported, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday (Sept. 14)…

Arkansas Children’s Research Institute gets $11.5 million to study obesity prevention

Scientists at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will continue studying the impacts of childhood obesity after the National Institutes of Health…

State Chamber chief says organization unlikely to take position on vaccine mandate; wants corporate income tax reduction

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas President and CEO Randy Zook says the business community’s reaction to a Biden executive order mandating vaccines has been “muted.” He also…

School district infection rates hit new record; President Biden rolls out broad vaccination plan

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) on Thursday (Sept. 9) reported a record 59 Arkansas public school districts with COVID-19 infection rates of 100 or more new known infections…

Military medical team to arrive in Arkansas; school mask policies reduce COVID cases

With new COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise, measures taken by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to respond now include bringing a 20-person military “medical team” to the University of Arkansas…

Whole Health Institute hires Beth Bobbitt as director of communications

Beth Bobbitt has resigned as public relations director at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art and accepted a job as director of communications for the new healthcare organization ramping up in…

CARTI hires specialist to serve as medical director for clinical research

CARTI announced it has added medical oncologist Sam Makhoul, M.D., to its team of cancer specialists, bringing its medical team to 44 physicians representing 12 specialties. In addition to treating…

UAFS launches ‘Lions Vax’ program to encourage vaccinations

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) has started a vaccine Incentive program – with prizes that include a $1,000 university credit and $300 bookstore voucher – to encourage…

COVID-19 deaths in Arkansas surpass estimate of Spanish flu deaths

Arkansas on Thursday (Sept. 2) reported 34 COVID-19 deaths, pushing the cumulative total to 7,003 and above the estimated 7,000 Arkansas deaths caused by the Spanish flu in 1918-19. The…

Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research surveying schools on mask mandates

The Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (BLR) submitted a survey to school districts Wednesday (Sept. 1), asking about their COVID numbers and requesting that their answers be returned the same…

St. Bernards Behavioral Health to operate Craighead County’s Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit

St. Bernards Behavioral Health will begin a partnership with Craighead County on Oct. 1 to operate the county’s 16-bed regional Crisis Stabilization Unit. The crisis stabilization unit (CSU), located in…

ACHI unveils data on vaccination rates by community and ZIP code

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) said Tuesday (Aug. 31) it is adding data on vaccination rates by community and ZIP code to its library of COVID-19 reporting. The…

Post Labor Day COVID surge likely; hospitals working to add ICU beds and staff

Some COVID-19 numbers have moved lower in recent weeks, but Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero worry about a post-Labor Day surge that could push…

Arkansas Medical Society leaders endorse vaccine requirements for health care workers

The Arkansas Medical Society board of trustees adopted a policy Monday (Aug. 30) calling for the required vaccination of health care workers. In a statement released broadly, the AMS said…

Fayetteville startup completes $3M Series B funding round; ready for product launch

Fayetteville-based healthcare technology startup Lineus Medical announced Monday (Aug. 30) the completion of a $3 million Series B funding round. The second tranche of $1.75 million recently came through. The first tranche…

National Park College to pursue four-year degrees

The National Park College (NPC) board of trustees approved a resolution allowing the college to move forward with submitting a Letter of Intent to the Arkansas Division of Higher Education…

Williams Baptist University forms student-employee partnership with Lawrence Healthcare

Lawrence Healthcare and Williams Baptist University have formed a partnership to fill employment needs at the hospital while providing valuable experience and training for WBU students. Through the agreement, students…

UAMS researcher awarded $3.6 million to expand HPV cancer vaccine study

Mayumi Nakagawa, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded $3.6 million from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to complete phase 2 clinical trials of PepCan, a breakthrough vaccine she developed at UAMS to…

UAMS researchers awarded $2.5 million grant for phone app to prevent opioid use relapse

A team of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) research scientists has been awarded a five-year grant worth $2.5 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to determine…