Kevin Burton
Kevin Burton has been named administrator of the new Unity Health-Jacksonville hospital.
Burton, who began work on Thursday in Jacksonville, joined Unity in 2005. He previously worked as the hospital system’s director of patient financial services. Unity has other hospitals in Searcy and Newport.
“Health care is not just a career,” Burton said in a news release. “It is a mission; we are given the opportunity to help people in their most vulnerable state. We provide world-class care, and a personal touch, a genuine love for the communities we serve.”
Burton holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Harding University in Searcy.
Unity worked with the city and former owner Allegiance Health Management Inc. of Shreveport to finalize the purchase of the hospital previously known as North Metro in March. Real estate tied to the deal sold for $7.75 million.
Allegiance began operating North Metro in 2009 but ultimately struggled with tax liens, vendor lawsuits and a revolving door of administrators. It closed suddenly in 2019, leaving the city without a hospital.
Unity Health CEO Steven Webb told Arkansas Business in April that Unity would ask the Arkansas Department of Health to relicense the hospital while Unity begins an $8 million renovation, including an emergency room expansion. The renovation will add 14 exam rooms, four triage rapid treatment rooms and about 10 acute observation beds next to the ER, Webb said.
Unity aims to open the Jacksonville hospital before summer 2022. As staffing gets underway, Burton said he thinks “if you hire the right people, and give them the right tools for their job, they will succeed.”
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