Small Hospital Finalist: NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Jonesboro

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

Closing in on its two-year anniversary, the $400 million NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro continues to impress as it delivers some of the best health care the state has to offer.

The integrated medical center represents the single largest investment in a community by its parent, Baptist Health Care and the largest health care investment in Arkansas in the last decade.

“Our hospital and health system has seen dramatic growth in the last two years, as has our community,” said Brad Parsons, CEO and administrator. “NEA Baptist opened this brand new medical campus in January of 2014, including a 181-bed hospital and 250,000-SF clinic. Our patient demand has continued to increase since moving into the new medical campus, having grown by 50 percent with expectations for strong growth to continue into the future.”

The 770,000-SF campus, built on 85 acres, serves more than a dozen counties around northeast Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The campus is comprised of the six-story hospital, the adjoining NEA Baptist Clinic, consisting of two multispecialty physician structures and a free-standing, 34,000-SF advanced cancer treatment center.

“This unique alignment between hospital and physician clinic practice allows for a streamlined experience for our patients that will improve quality and decrease cost,” Parsons said.

Parsons noted several additions have already taken place in response to patient demand.

“Since opening the new medical campus in 2014, NEA Baptist has added 24 beds in our new acute rebab unit in September, 2014 and added 11 beds on our women’s services unit in March, 2015,” he said. “Both of these examples are evidence of the growth and demand that we continue to see for NEA Baptist.”

However NEA Baptist Hospital isn’t out to be simply the biggest or newest but also the most efficient.

“Our physicians and caregivers are engaged in becoming more efficient and reducing the total cost of care,” Parsons said. “We are working collaboratively with insurance providers to engage patients through preventive treatment and improved monitoring of health indicators.”

In April, the complex garnered top national honors for its builder, Hoar Construction of Birmingham, Alabama, from Associated Builders and Contractors. Parsons said such accolades affirm the pride and skill that permeates every aspect of the facility and the people who work there.

“Our commitment to our patients and to our mission is carried out each day by our employees, who provide great care and create a great experience for our patients and their families,” Parsons said.