Baxter Regional Medical Center | Hospitals, Clinics, and Care Facilities
Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation

Health Care

North Central Arkansas residents enjoy excellent health care close to home. The largest health care facility in the region is Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, serving a 14-county area in Arkansas and Missouri. It is licensed for 268 beds and recorded 12,182 admissions during 2002. The medical center added a six-story tower in 2000 bringing the area of the hospital to approximately 220,854 square feet and employing 1,200.

The medical staff of Baxter Regional Medical Center consists of over 100 active staff physicians representing specialties from cardiology to urology. Among the newest services is geriatric psychiatric care. The hospital provides paramedic ambulance service to communities throughout the area, making over 9,211 runs during 2002. There were more than 25,000 emergency department visits in 2002.

Four additional communities support local hospitals. Salem is the location of the Fulton County Hospital, which operates 49 beds and recorded 1002 admissions during the 2002 fiscal year.

Two medical centers are "critical access hospitals." At Calico Rock, the Community Medical Center of Izard County operates as a 26-bed facility. Affiliated clinics are located in Horseshoe Bend and Melbourne. Admissions recorded for 2002 totaled 779. At Mountain View, the Stone County Medical Center operates 25 beds and recorded 1,090 admissions in 2001. At Clinton, Ozark Health Medical Center is a 32-bed medical center serving Van Buren and surrounding counties with a medical staff of 10 physicians, which offers 24-hour emergency care, physical therapy, home health care and long-term care. Moving to its new facility in August 2004, admissions for 2004 were 809.

A radiation therapy institute, CARTI, serves the region from Mountain Home. It opened in 1989 and provides the highest quality radiation therapy using state of the art technology.

Long Term Care, Rehabilitation Centers, Home Care

Because our area is one of the top 20 retirement areas in the nation for those interested in small towns and a rural lifestyle, many services have developed to provide numerous levels of care for the elderly, which enhances the quality of life for the elderly and contributes to the peace of mind for the entire family.

More than a dozen long term care facilities with nearly 1500 beds serve the elderly and their families in the seven-county area. Additionally, there are several independent living facilities with various levels of assistance available to suit individual needs. Families can easily arrange short-term boarding and assistance for elderly family members when necessary through local agencies. Arkansas Department of Human Services operates Elder Choices, a Medicaid program of community and home based services as an alternative to nursing home care. Many services are available privately through home care agencies.

In Baxter County, Baxter House is an adult day care program for the elderly who do not need nursing home care, but who do need daytime care while family members work, including meals. A daily fee applies.

Baxter County Day Service Center provides a range of opportunities for developmentally disabled citizens who are not in public school programs. Adults work in an activity center, learn independent living skills, academics, and receive recreational and socialization training. An infant and toddlers program accommodates those 0 - 36 months of age. No fee is charged. Van Buren County Special School offers similar no fee services for those eligible and a Child Care Center for infants through schoolage.