HMH changes visitation policy

Thursday night, the Howard Memorial Hospital Board of Directors met for their regular March meeting.

Jill Crump of the Surgical Services department reported they had replaced the old laparoscopic equipment with a new Visera Elite II, OTV-5200 Imaging System.

Crump reported the new equipment will support 4K resolution, offers wider color gamut and has higher contrast with less color blurring.

CEO Debra Wright reported a new hospitalist has been hired. Her name is Carla Pumphrey and she will start full-time effective July 6th.

Wright also stated Howard Memorial has changed it’s visitation policy in compliance with the new No Patient Left Alone law that was approved by the Arkansas Legislature.

Wright also reported HMH had received a grant for $26,200 from the Southwest Arkansas Healthcare Coalition to cover the expense of convert two more ED rooms to negative pressure.