Wadley Regional is now Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center
Pafford Medical Services Announces Acquisition of Wadley Regional Medical Center, Renaming Facility as Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center
HOPE – After months of negotiations, Pafford Medical Services COO, Clay Hobbs has been handed the keys to the former Wadley Regional Medical Center – Hope. In an effort to prevent closure of the local hospital, Pafford Medical Services joined forces with the City of Hope and Hempstead County to ensure stability of the facility.
Wadley Regional Medical Center will now be known as Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center. As closure of the hospital appeared imminent, it became increasingly urgent for local officials and concerned citizens to intervene. “We have worked diligently to ensure that healthcare remains accessible to our citizens,” stated Mr. Hobbs. “Through negotiations we have ensured that payroll was met, and the facility will stay open,” he added. At the direction of Jamie Pafford Gresham, Pafford Medical Services President and CEO, the management group Progressive Health Group has been retained to assist with the transition and hospital operations.
Pafford stated it is dedicated to enhancing and building a solid foundation of quality healthcare by providing outstanding care and enhancing patient satisfaction. “We want to bring excellent healthcare back to Hope, back to our hometown, and back to the southwest region of Arkansas.”
“We are grateful for the community’s support and guidance during this critical time, and we look forward to establishing Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center as a foundational provider of outstanding healthcare,” Pafford added in the statement.
The previous operator of the former Wadley Regional Medical Center in Hope, Steward Health Care, has announced in May that it had commenced an in-court restructuring process through the filing of voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
In those court filings, Steward Health Care said it plans to sell off all its hospitals. The Dallas-based company operates 31 hospitals nationwide, including in Hope and Texarkana.
Steward Health Care has entered into a definitive agreement to divest Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas, to the international Catholic health system CHRISTUS Health.
The bid from CHRISTUS Health has been designated as the stalking horse bid, setting a baseline for any other offers, the health system noted.