AMMC, Baptist Memorial Health Care agree to merger

PARAGOULD, Ark. (KAIT) – Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould announced Tuesday it has agreed to a merger with Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis.

According to a news release, the two organizations signed a non-binding letter of intent to complete a shared mission agreement.

While still in the early stages of discussion, the agreement is expected to be finalized early next year.

This will be the third hospital in Arkansas for Baptist Memorial, including NEA Baptist in Jonesboro and Baptist-Crittenden in West Memphis.

AMMC’s C-E-O Brad Bloemer, said while the hospital is in good financial standing now, many rural hospitals still face challenges.

“We felt that in order to grow services, expand our services bring in new specialists that we needed to partner with a big system,” he said.

That big system is Baptist Memorial Health Care from Memphis. The organization operates 24 hospitals across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

President and CEO Jason Little said Baptist Memorial can provide resources like physicians, recruiters, and operations.

“We have committed to capital resources as well in terms of dollars to grow, but then it’s also brain power resources as well for all the know-how and experience of these folks that will be coming together,” he said.

For both CEO’s, keeping healthcare in Greene County was pivotal, especially as the city of Paragould continues to grow.

“It’s very important to for the citizen here to have access locally instead of driving all the way to Jonesboro or to Memphis and so we owe it to the community to have very high quality service and specialized services,” he said.

Blomer said the hospital’s ambulance service would still operate and said Baptist was committed to maintaining Chateau on the Ridge and said talks are still going on at the medical park.

He said the merger was for the long-term future of health care in Paragould

“We will see more services, more specialists. We’ll just have more access to health care, we’ll have more access to resources,” he said.

In the news release, both CEO’s expressed excitement about the future.

“Merging with Baptist Memorial Health Care is an exciting opportunity for both Baptist and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center and, most importantly, for the community we serve,” said Brad Bloemer, CEO of Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. “Together, we can expand access to more health care services, bring in more specialists and specialty services, modernize our facility, and ensure these health care services stay close to home.”

“Arkansas Methodist Medical Center has similar values to Baptist Memorial Health Care and an excellent reputation in the community,” said Jason Little, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care. “By combining our organizations, we can expand the reach of sustainable and quality health care in the region while creating a strong organization with the size, scale, technology and intellectual capital to expand access to care while weathering future challenges.”

AMMC has served Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri for 75 years. Baptist Memorial Health Care has 24 hospitals in West Tennessee, Mississippi, and Northeast Arkansas, including in Craighead County.

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