Sparks Regional Medical Center

Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith is the oldest hospital in the state, founded in 1887, and the fifth largest.

In 2010, the 249-bed facility generated revenue of $737 million. It employs more than 1,600 and serves an 11-county area in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma that reaches more than 350,000 people.

Sparks Regional Medical Center is part of the Sparks Health System that includes the physicians and clinics of Sparks Medical Foundation; the Sparks Development Foundation, which is responsible for philanthropy efforts; a managed care organization, Sparks PremierCare, and Summit Medical Center, an acute-care hospital in neighboring Van Buren.

Founded by the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Sparks began as St. John's Hospital and later merged with City Charity to become Belle Point Hospital. In 1908, local philanthropist George Sparks bequeathed $25,000 to the hospital in honor of his late wife, and the name was changed to Sparks.

In 2009, Sparks helped form the AOK (Arkansas/Oklahoma) Healthcare Consortium, consisting of 11 regional hospitals. Melody Trimble is CEO of the Sparks system.

Related News

Stephen Tipton Named SVP at Centennial Bank (Movers & Shakers)

6 days ago –

Stephen Tipton has been promoted to senior vice president and credit risk management director of Centennial Bank and its parent company, Home BancShares Inc., in Conway. Tipton, a University of Arkansas business graduate, has worked for Centennial for seven years and has experience in retail, business development and lending. read more >

Health Management Associates to Open Service Center, Employ 500 at Fort Smith

1 month ago –

Health Management Associates of Naples, Fla., said Thursday that it will open a new service center in Fort Smith, employing 500 at an annual payroll of $21 million. read more >

Summit, Sparks Quantified as Leaders in Local Economy

5 months ago –

Report outlines $376 million impact of medical centers. read more >

Sparks Regional Medical Center Added to State's Trauma Network

5 months ago –

Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith has been added to the state's network of trauma hospitals, the facility announced Thursday. read more >

Kudos: Arkansas Businesses Receive Recognition

6 months ago –

Sparks Regional, ABF and UALR all among Arkansas entities being recognized. read more >

David Cleveland, Emily Hornok Promoted at Rasco Winter Abston Moore & Associates (Movers & Shakers, Sept. 24, 2012)

8 months ago –

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Sept. 24, 2012. read more >

UALR's Bruce Plopper Wins Laurence Campbell Research Award (Movers & Shakers, Sept. 17, 2012)

8 months ago –

The award, which the University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor has won for the fourth time, was for his top faculty paper, "Scholastic Journalism Teacher Use of Digital Devices and Social Networking Tools." read more >

Mercy's ER Policy Raises Concerns

9 months ago –

In the first 11 days of Mercy Fort Smith's new emergency room screening procedure, 120 nonemergency patients opted to go elsewhere for care rather than pay a $150 deposit to be treated at the hospital. read more >

Sparks to Unveil Renovated Surgery Department

1 year ago –

Sparks Health System will mark its 125th anniversary on Friday with the grand opening of a newly renovated, 44,000-SF surgery area at Sparks Regional Medical Center's Renaissance building in Fort Smith. read more >

Tax Helps Arkansas Hospitals Stop Bleeding

2 years ago –

Arkansas Business' annual list of the state's largest hospitals and medical centers shows a sharp change from previous years: Most made money in 2010. read more >

Truman Arnold Roars Back to Top of Private Companies List

2 years ago –

TAC reported almost $2.3 billion in revenue during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, an 80 percent increase over fiscal 2009. read more >

Movers & Shakers (Nov. 29, 2010)

2 years ago –

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Nov. 29, 2010. read more >

HealthSouth Completes Purchase of Fort Smith Rehab Unit

3 years ago –

HealthSouth Corp. of Birmingham, Ala., said Monday that it completed its purchase of a 30-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit in Fort Smith from Health Management Associates. read more >

Movers & Shakers (Nov. 16, 2009)

4 years ago –

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Nov. 16, 2009. read more >

Movers & Shakers (Nov. 9, 2009)

4 years ago –

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Nov. 9, 2009. read more >

Florida Firm Signs Deal to Buy Sparks Health System

4 years ago –

Previously announced deal should close by year's end. read more >

Arkansas Business' 25 Health Care Advances (25th Anniversary)

4 years ago –

Since 1984, the lives of Arkansans have been improved by the introduction of new medical technology, procedures or services. Here are some of the key health care advances, listed in chronological order by year of introduction, that have shaped Arkansas' m read more >

Clinton Library the Year's Top Story in Arkansas

8 years ago –

The opening of the Clinton Presidential Library in November was the culmination of seven years of planning and year's No. 1 Newsmaker. read more >

Sparks and Triad Discontinue Joint Venture Plans

9 years ago –

A joint venture between Sparks Health System in Fort Smith and Triad Hospitals Inc. that included a new $139 million hospital has been called off. read more >

Millions Being Spent On Hospital Construction

9 years ago –

The growing number of new medical centers in Arkansas is an outgrowth of aging facilities around the state. read more >