Hempstead County Quorum Court Meets, Potential Problems for Hope Hospital Discussed Due to Steward Healthcare’s Financial Issues
By Mark Keith, 04/19/24 9:35 PMThe Hempstead County Quorum Court met Thursday (4-18) at the Hempstead County Courthouse. Following the prayer and pledge, the JP’s moved into the agenda items for the meeting.
The JP’s passed four ordinances. These included one that sets the regular quorum court meeting to be the fourth Thursday of each month at 4:30pm in the large courtroom in the Hempstead County Courthouse. A transfer ordinance moved $4,142.60 from ARPA funds to pay for some flyers on checking broadband speeds. Another ordinance moved $5,561.67 from ARPA funds to the ARPA Revenue Replenishment fund for the jail. This money paid for some flooring at the jail. Finally, the JP’s approved an ordinance that appropriates the Emergency Vehicle fund for 2024. $18,292.84 is appropriated for the budget against anticipated revenue of $20,326. The money appropriated is helping to replace a wrecked vehicle.
JP Ed Darling addressed the financial situation being faced by the parent company of Wadley Regional Medical Center. Darling noted the parent company, Steward Healthcare, 30 days ago filed a notice to reorganize their finances and obtain further credit. He further noted the county judge will appoint 3 people to serve with 3 people from the city of Hope to serve on a committee to draft a plan to keep the hospital going should Steward have to close it. Darling noted it was public information that the Hope hospital, if it were to close, would not be permitted reopen due to changes in building safety codes that are more stringent than when the hospital was constructed in 1982. He said it is imperative that the group have a plan to act quickly should Steward file for bankruptcy that the hospital be kept operating. Said Darling, “We’re trying to come up with a plan to keep healthcare in this community”. He pointed out that most industrial concerns require an acute healthcare facility to be in the community where they plan to locate. Darling said “Our intention is to work with this group and keep a viable hospital in this community.” He further speculated that a solution could be the county holding the building as a non-profit corporation or “no telling what”. He said the group will hopefully come up with a solution. Judge Crane noted Darling and Clay Hobbs are two of the three who will represent the county. Anna Powell of the Hempstead County EDC said she wants the community to know this committee can be trusted. She also expressed her confidence in the staff at the hospital. Powell said we’re not the only community in the state or even the country that is facing such a threat. “We haven’t done anything wrong, our hospital hasn’t done anything wrong…we just need to be more alert about operations and viability because healthcare changes everyday,” said Powell. There was further discussion about the situation being faced by Wadley in Texarkana and over 30 other Steward facilities.
Sheriff James Singleton appraised the JP’s about the deputy-involved shooting last week just inside Howard County. The Sheriff says the deputy is on paid administrative leave until he’s cleared by the Howard County prosecutor. The sheriff asked the JP’s to pray for the deputy. The Arkansas State Police is investigating the incident.
The meeting then adjourned.
