Howard Memorial Hospital Board Meets For February Session

Howard Memorial Hospital has been rated among the best critical care access hospitals in Arkansas. The local hospital has received a four star rating, which is based on a number of criteria. Only one critical care access hospital was rated higher than Howard Memrial.

At this week’s hospital board of directors meeting, chief financial officer Bill Craig presented the January financial numbers. Lower than expected patient volume caused a deficit of more than 85 thousand dollars last month. Significant drops in the average daily census and emergency department visits were the main factors although outpatient visits and surgery cases also failed to meet expected numbers.

One of the two hospitalist physicians has resigned. Gina Vargas has submitted her resignation due to plans of returning to her home area of Fort Smith. Vargas has been employed at the local hospital since January 6th.