James Magee

The Health System, which features a 25-bed hospital, is able to keep more of its patients in its network thanks to using telemedicine for pulmonology, cardiology and infectious disease services, said James Magee, executive director of the system. read more >

Piggott Community Hospital started an outpatient mental health program last month and plans to offer an infusion outpatient service by the end of April or early May, as a way to improve the hospital’s finances. read more >

A law that eases restrictions in the way telemedicine is delivered in Arkansas goes into effect in August and will help Arkansas hospitals expand their range of virtual services. read more >

Rural hospitals are using every tool at their disposal to lure doctors: recruiting firms, competitive pay packages, signing bonuses, stipends. And still they struggle. The reasons behind the dearth of doctors seeking to join rural hospitals are many, longstanding and, sometimes, structural. read more >

Adding to the mix of bad news, Arkansas hospitals could lose $403 million in total Medicare payments for seniors over the next 10 years if the Budget Control Act of 2011 goes into place on Jan. 1. read more >