NARMC Experiencing Growing Pains and Addressing Concerning National Trend

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center is experiencing some growing pains, and they're working to fight a negative national trend.

NARMC Director of Marketing and Community Relations Kim Rosson and the hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Sammie Cribbs appeared on KHOZ's "Around The Table" on Thursday to discuss those growth pains.

Cribbs said outpatient volume has exceeded close to 10%, and surgical volume has gone beyond 12%. She added that "about 12% more babies" have been delivered than in 2022.

That's not all. Cribbs said that NARMC's lab and radiology have experienced growth.

The president and CEO also talked about the impact of inflation on healthcare. She acknowledged that this isn't merely a local trend.

A big concern Cribbs expressed is that a hospital that delivers newborns in Arkansas has closed. There are now only 36 hospitals that offer baby delivery care; this makes people have to relocate or travel a distance for such needs. She said that the state is leading the country in terms of "the worst maternal mortality."

In response, NARMC is working to keep their delivery service active by closing other services they offer. Rosson said NARMC delivers "over 500 babies a year." More was discussed during the broadcast.

The full interview with Cribbs and Rosson is on the "Around The Table" Facebook Page.