UAMS East Regional Campus Opens New Family Medical Center in Helena
| Nov. 7, 2017 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) East Regional Campus in Helena today celebrated the opening of its Family Medical Center, as part of its strategic efforts to expand clinical and educational services in the Delta.
About 5,400 square feet of the facility were recently renovated at a cost of $650,000 to be able to house eight exam rooms that support a full-time family practice physician and staff along with new offices and storage space.
“The clinic renovations would not have been possible without our wonderful partnership with the Helena Health Foundation. For the past 11 years the Helena Health Foundation Board has been an excellent landlord, working with us not only on building issues but supporting so many of our programs. This foundation and its dedicated members are truly making a difference in the health of the Delta,” said Becky Hall, Ed.D., director of UAMS East Regional Campus.
UAMS Interim Chancellor Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., addresses the audience at the opening celebration.
State legislators, local dignitaries, UAMS Interim Chancellor Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., and UAMS officials were on hand for the ribbon cutting. Groundbreaking on the project was in June.
Thomas Bailey, M.D., the center’s medical director, is a Helena native and graduate of the UAMS residency program in Pine Bluff. He began seeing patients at the UAMS East Campus on Oct. 23. Bailey has more than 15 years of private practice experience in the region. Josephine Jackson, A.P.R.N.; Anita Sanders, L.P.N.; and Marla Clark, L.P.N., have joined him to serve the center’s patients.
“We have assembled a wonderful, caring clinical team that is committed to realizing the dream of having a medical clinic where all our patients feel welcome and important,” said Hall, Ed.D. “Dr. Bailey brings years of experience and commitment to meeting the health care needs of the people in the Delta through his expertise and leadership.”
Becky Hall, Ed.D., UAMS East Regional Campus director, left, speaks to the crowd at the celebration.
UAMS East Regional Campus was founded in 1990. Its staff of 25 serves the seven Arkansas Delta counties of Chicot, Crittenden, Desha, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and St. Francis.
Attending the opening were state Sen. Keith Ingram; state Rep. Chris Richey; Helena Mayor Jay Hollowell; Phillips County Judge Clark Hall; and Sterling Moore, UAMS vice chancellor for Regional Campuses. Representing the Helena Health Foundation were Chairman Victor Juengel and numerous board members.
“UAMS has long worked in Helena and the Delta region to improve patient care for a better state of health,” Gardner said. “This beautifully renovated space proves that our commitment to the people of eastern Arkansas is as strong as it is anywhere else across the state. All of us are united in that commitment.”
The renovated regional campus building will provide space for training health care professionals and offering health education and health promotion to Delta residents. The building houses staff offices, classrooms, a medical library and a fully equipped fitness center featuring an indoor and outdoor track. The building also provides office space for the Helena Health Foundation
Larry Delk and Associates was the general contracting firm, and Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects did the architectural design work on the project.
“We are excited about providing our patients with state-of-the-art medical care and services such as diabetes education, chronic disease management and weight management,” Hall said.