Hope City Board Passes Resolution Authorizing Up To $1 Million Dollars Over Ten Months To Keep Hospital Going, County Expected to Do the Same

The Hope City Board passed a resolution authorizing up to $1 million dollars to be used over ten months to fund hospital services in Hope.  The move comes after parent company of Wadley Regional Medical Center in Hope, Steward, recently filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.  Anna Powell of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation said after the meeting the Quorum Court will consider a similar resolution at a meeting on Thursday.  Powell was representing the non-profit “Southwest Arkansas Healthcare Authority” and the EDC.  The city money will flow through the EDC to support operations under the hospital license as needed.  Powell stressed the money will be used as needed and may not be needed at all but will be there in case the hospital needs that support.  She said, “during the bankruptcy proceedings with Steward, these resolutions will show that we as a community are prepared to support an operator to keep our healthcare system viable and sustained in our area”.  Powell said the bankruptcy court would need to see a potential bidder has the community support.

When asked if there was any potential operator in the running to purchase the hospital, Powell noted they don’t know for sure who all will bid on the hospital license, but they are aware that Pafford Health Systems intends to bid on the hospital license.

Powell said this has been a long process and she expects the situation to remain “fluid” over the next few months.  She said she feels certain “we will know who our healthcare partner is going to be in the next few weeks and then we will move and shift in a way to keep our community healthcare viable”.