Health Care Providers Investing in Fort Smith
Rendering of future exterior of Mercy Hospital. Rendering courtesy Mercy Health.
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
Mercy’s growth includes plans for new ER, ICU
Recent additions help more patients stay in River Valley to receive care
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith has kicked off a $162.4 million expansion of its emergency room and intensive care unit, one of several recent projects that enable Mercy to care for more patients in the River Valley.
Completion of the project is expected in Fall 2024. The expansion of the ER will allow for about 20,000 additional patient visits per year and includes special considerations for infectious disease and behavioral health patients. Mercy will expand its ER from 29 to 50 rooms and increase ICU capacity from 38 to 64 while doubling the number of rooms capable of supporting ventilators.
Additional changes include adding 200 parking spaces and helipad relocation that will improve the patient transport process. Additional plans call for a new gift shop and meeting room space in the expanded areas.
Mercy Fort Smith has worked to build a vibrant medical community and grow into a regional health care center, and established itself as a regional health care center, allowing patients to remain in the River Valley when they receive care.
Recent additions help more patients stay in River Valley to receive care
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith has kicked off a $162.4 million expansion of its emergency room and intensive care unit, one of several recent projects that enable Mercy to care for more patients in the River Valley.
Completion of the project is expected in Fall 2024. The expansion of the ER will allow for about 20,000 additional patient visits per year and includes special considerations for infectious disease and behavioral health patients. Mercy will expand its ER from 29 to 50 rooms and increase ICU capacity from 38 to 64 while doubling the number of rooms capable of supporting ventilators.
Additional changes include adding 200 parking spaces and helipad relocation that will improve the patient transport process. Additional plans call for a new gift shop and meeting room space in the expanded areas.
Mercy Fort Smith has worked to build a vibrant medical community and grow into a regional health care center, and established itself as a regional health care center, allowing patients to remain in the River Valley when they receive care.
The Fort Smith Baptist Health hospital on the corner of Towson Avenue and Dodson Avenue. Photo by John Speck.
Baptist Health
Baptist Health
Baptist Health-Fort Smith is a 492-bed medical center accredited by The Joint Commission. In addition to operating one of the busiest emergency departments in the state, the hospital offers providers who specialize in areas such as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, neurology, interventional radiology, urology, hematology/oncology, orthopedics and general, trauma and bariatric surgery.
From screenings to expert treatment or surgery, Baptist Health-Fort Smith provides advanced, state-of-the-art services to ensure you get the best possible results from your care including the minimally-invasive da Vinci surgical system for a wide range of gynecological and urological procedures.
Baptist Health-Fort Smith is recognized annually for its commitment to safety and quality care for patients with heart failure, chest pain, and stroke by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
Nearly 1,000 babies are born amazing at Baptist Health-Fort Smith each year. In addition to experienced obstetricians and staff members, the hospital’s labor and delivery unit offers many options for mothers who want to experience a natural birth with minimal interventions. Apart from traditional forms of pain management for labor, Baptist Health-Fort Smith offers nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas.”
The River Valley is also home to nearly 40 Baptist Health primary care, urgent care and specialty clinics, as well as outpatient imaging and therapy centers.
Baptist Health’s newest clinic provides specialized services for the Hispanic community. Baptist Health La Clínica del Pueblo opened in the fall of 2021 at 4700 Kelley Highway, Suite B, in Fort Smith with the goal of eliminating language barriers for Spanish-speaking residents seeking health care services in the River Valley. Wilson Cruz, MD, and his staff are bilingual and can treat patients of all ages for a wide variety of health concerns including adult wellness exams, management of acute and chronic illness and sick visits.
For more than 100 years, Baptist Health has delivered All Our Best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere.
It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs.
For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.
From screenings to expert treatment or surgery, Baptist Health-Fort Smith provides advanced, state-of-the-art services to ensure you get the best possible results from your care including the minimally-invasive da Vinci surgical system for a wide range of gynecological and urological procedures.
Baptist Health-Fort Smith is recognized annually for its commitment to safety and quality care for patients with heart failure, chest pain, and stroke by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
Nearly 1,000 babies are born amazing at Baptist Health-Fort Smith each year. In addition to experienced obstetricians and staff members, the hospital’s labor and delivery unit offers many options for mothers who want to experience a natural birth with minimal interventions. Apart from traditional forms of pain management for labor, Baptist Health-Fort Smith offers nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas.”
The River Valley is also home to nearly 40 Baptist Health primary care, urgent care and specialty clinics, as well as outpatient imaging and therapy centers.
Baptist Health’s newest clinic provides specialized services for the Hispanic community. Baptist Health La Clínica del Pueblo opened in the fall of 2021 at 4700 Kelley Highway, Suite B, in Fort Smith with the goal of eliminating language barriers for Spanish-speaking residents seeking health care services in the River Valley. Wilson Cruz, MD, and his staff are bilingual and can treat patients of all ages for a wide variety of health concerns including adult wellness exams, management of acute and chronic illness and sick visits.
For more than 100 years, Baptist Health has delivered All Our Best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere.
It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs.
For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.
UAMS Family Medical Center in Fort Smith. Photo courtesy of UAMS.
UAMS Family Medical Center-Fort Smith
UAMS Family Medical Center-Fort Smith
The UAMS Family Medical Center, Fort Smith, provides primary care medical services to patients of all ages. The facility not only offers treatment for acute medical conditions, but also ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.
Services also extend to annual physicals and wellness visits, including well-woman and well-child visits. Treatment covers pediatric conditions to senior health care with both child and adult immunizations. The center also offers women’s health and maternity care services.
Highly-trained doctors in Fort Smith provide care for women before, during and after pregnancy, and also provide cancer screenings from colonoscopies for colon cancer to cervical cancer screenings.
The center contains 48 examination rooms. Convenient walk-in visits are available for patients. The facility in Fort Smith also includes a minor surgical suite and gynecology procedure rooms. For added convenience, there is also an in-house laboratory and digital x-ray services. The clinic has an electrocardiographic monitoring system, OB ultrasound, fetal monitor and radio surgical and cryotherapy units.
Services also extend to annual physicals and wellness visits, including well-woman and well-child visits. Treatment covers pediatric conditions to senior health care with both child and adult immunizations. The center also offers women’s health and maternity care services.
Highly-trained doctors in Fort Smith provide care for women before, during and after pregnancy, and also provide cancer screenings from colonoscopies for colon cancer to cervical cancer screenings.
The center contains 48 examination rooms. Convenient walk-in visits are available for patients. The facility in Fort Smith also includes a minor surgical suite and gynecology procedure rooms. For added convenience, there is also an in-house laboratory and digital x-ray services. The clinic has an electrocardiographic monitoring system, OB ultrasound, fetal monitor and radio surgical and cryotherapy units.
The new VA Medical Clinic opened in April 2022 at 5700 Phoenix Avenue, adjacent to Ebbing Air Base. Photo courtesy of Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks.
Fort Smith VA Clinic
Fort Smith VA Clinic
The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) opened its doors to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility on April 11, 2022, after relocating the current clinic in Fort Smith to a facility nearly twice its size.
The VA Clinic is located at 5700 Phoenix Place near the airport. The facility is 34,000 square feet and includes services including:
Since these services are onsite, Veterans have faster results and better access to care.
The use of Tele-Health services decreases wait times and eliminates the need for travel. The Department of Veterans Affairs leveraged the increased use of Tele-Health services during the pandemic and will continue to make more specialty services available via virtual care modalities.
Convenience and comfort are key factors in the design of the clinic, and the Women Veterans area received special attention that includes their own, larger area specific to women’s health care. The new space is timely, as women Veterans represent the fastest growing population at Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks, and in many areas across the country.
Women Veterans continue to serve, and newly designed facilities incorporate many changes that better accommodate women Veterans. Excellent care and the patient experience are two of the prime focus areas for patient care.
VHSO and its clinics were recently recognized as being in the top five hospitals in Arkansas in patient experience.
The VA Clinic is located at 5700 Phoenix Place near the airport. The facility is 34,000 square feet and includes services including:
- Patient-Aligned Care Team model for Primary Care
- Increase of exam rooms from nine to 27
- Laboratory
- Audiology
- Optometry with an Optical Shop
- Radiology services (computerized tomography or CT, X-Ray, and Ultrasound)
- Expanded Telehealth capabilities like tele-retinal
- Expanded Mental Health services (room for group therapy, substance abuse program and telehealth capabilities)
- Expanded Women’s Health Area
Since these services are onsite, Veterans have faster results and better access to care.
The use of Tele-Health services decreases wait times and eliminates the need for travel. The Department of Veterans Affairs leveraged the increased use of Tele-Health services during the pandemic and will continue to make more specialty services available via virtual care modalities.
Convenience and comfort are key factors in the design of the clinic, and the Women Veterans area received special attention that includes their own, larger area specific to women’s health care. The new space is timely, as women Veterans represent the fastest growing population at Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks, and in many areas across the country.
Women Veterans continue to serve, and newly designed facilities incorporate many changes that better accommodate women Veterans. Excellent care and the patient experience are two of the prime focus areas for patient care.
VHSO and its clinics were recently recognized as being in the top five hospitals in Arkansas in patient experience.
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