HSC Medical Center Continues Tradition

HSC Medical Center has been serving the residents of Hot Spring County and surrounding areas for their inpatient and outpatient needs since 1923.

HSCMC offers 72 inpatient beds, most of which are private rooms, and includes intensive care, step-down, medical-surgical, mental health, hospice, and outpatient.   Inpatient and outpatient admissions numbered nearly 15,190 just this past year. 

One of only a few mental health units in the state of Arkansas, HSCMC’s PsycHealth unit houses 18 beds and had 640 admissions during the last fiscal year. 

The emergency room, which is staffed with physician coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, recorded over 13,000 visits last year.    Dr. Vivian Highsmith serves as medical director for the ER.

In the past year, the surgery department has performed over 1500 procedures, including surgeries, GI cases, and outpatient procedures.  The latest high definition medical video cameras and scopes are available for surgical cases.   Dr. Alan Gerber is the medical director for the department.

HSCMC’s Home Health served the county and surrounding area with over 10,000 visits to resident’s homes in 2010.  Services in the home include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and home health aide. 

In 2009, an Outpatient Center was opened that will handle pre and post operative care for outpatients, as well as physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and wound care. The Wound Care Center offers outpatient treatment for non-healing wounds. 

The acute hospice beds at HSCMC provide short-term inpatient hospice care.  The beds are operated in partnership with Hospice Home Care and Arkansas Hospice.

The hospital offers many other ancillary services.  The full service laboratory is CLIA and COLA certified.  The radiology department includes state-of-the-art equipment including the latest MRI and a 64-slice CT.  Respiratory therapy includes both respiratory and cardiopulmonary services.  The physical therapy department provides inpatient therapy and operates an outpatient clinic.  The dietary department employs a full-time dietitian who provides physician ordered dietary counseling.  A sleep center is operated at HSCMC in collaboration with Coulter Sleep Labs.

Dee Schall, RN, has been at HSCMC for 18 years and served as Chief Nursing Officer for 11 years.  She includes on her nursing staff a group of directors and clinical coordinators responsible for the various patient care areas including medical, surgical, and intensive care units. 

With HSCMC since 2000, Sheila Williams was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December 2008.  Prior to that, she held the position of Chief Financial Officer.  She is responsible for the day to day operation of the hospital, as well as the long term planning for the hospital. 

HSC Medical Center is governed by a Board of Directors.  Kimball Davis is the Chairman and Gary Burroughs is the Vice-Chairman. 

HSCMC is a private, not-for-profit hospital classified as a 501 (c) 3 corporation and did not receive any tax support until a county wide sales tax was passed in September 2008.  The funds from the sales tax were received beginning in March 2009. 

The Hot Spring County Medical Foundation was formed in 2001 to help HSCMC provide better and expanded healthcare for the citizens of Malvern and the surrounding area.  As a 501 (c) 3, anything donated to it, whether it is cash or in-kind, is tax deductible.  Through 20010, over $600,000 in funds have been raised to purchase hospital equipment and refurbish patient rooms.  Hospital Board member Teresa Howell serves as Foundation Chairperson. 

The HSCMC Auxiliary members volunteered over 8000 hours this past year.  As a result of profits from The Pink Lady Gift Shop and other fund raising activities, the auxiliary supports the hospital with generous donations.