Medical Center of South Arkansas has Broad Impact on El Dorado

3/15/2022

(El Dorado, Ark. – March 15, 2022) – Over the course of a year, the impact of Medical Center of South Arkansas adds up as the skilled and compassionate hands of physicians, nurses and other team members deliver safe, quality care around the clock every day. Beyond clinical care, the hospital is a major employer and regularly invests resources to expand and enhance the services available locally. The overall community benefit each year is significant and totaled more than $57 million in 2021.

Last year, the hospital and clinics delivered care at more than 98,000 patient visits as the pandemic heightened the need for medical care. The hospital has supported hundreds COVID inpatients since March 2020 while sustaining all of its other medical services. To help protect the community from the COVID-19 virus, the hospital spearheaded vaccination education efforts and partnered with local churches, businesses, civic organizations and others to host more than 20 community vaccination clinics throughout El Dorado and the surrounding area, resulting in more than 2,500 residents becoming vaccinated -- and treated more than 450 outpatients with monoclonal antibodies, helping people avoid serious symptoms and hospitalization.

“We provided quality care for patients with COVID and also for other members of our community who had a broad range of medical needs,” said Dwayne Blaylock, interim chief executive officer for Medical Center of South Arkansas. “The El Dorado community is truly fortunate to have this resilient and committed team of clinicians and caregivers who make a difference for so many patients each day.”

Employees and medical staff brought their skills and compassion to support more than 18,000 emergency department visits, more than 3,700 inpatients and perform more than 3,200 surgeries. Patient visits to our physician clinics, imaging center and physical therapy clinic totaled 73,000. We also delivered joy to local families as more than 600 babies were born.

Medical Center of South Arkansas continues to grow and evolve as resources are directed toward increased medical services, facilities and technologies that are important to patients. These include the renovation and expansion of the hospital’s critical care unit and the establishment of a behavioral health unit, slated to open in late spring 2022, which will offer much needed mental health support and resources for residents of south Arkansas.

As Medical Center of South Arkansas works to continuously meet patients’ needs, it also gives back to El Dorado and south Arkansas. The hospital provided over $9.5 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the $1.8 million paid in property, sales and GRT taxes helps support civic resources and services.

The hospital’s payroll of more than $35.5 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. The hospital also made capital improvements totaling more than $4.4 million.

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of having a strong hospital in our community to serve our healthcare needs,” said Rob Robinson, Chair, Medical Center of South Arkansas Board of Trustees. “The benefits of a strong hospital do not stop with clinical care. The value MCSA brings to the community as a large employer, supporter of local organizations, and contributor to economic growth of the area helps make El Dorado a healthier, better community for all.”

To help the community live healthier, Medical Center of South Arkansas last year launched a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at https://www.themedcenter.net/enewsletter-sign-up.

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