Doctors Hospital expanding into Arkansas

“We were approached by the community to see if we would reopen the facility,” said Doctors Hospital Director of Communications Carrie Richardson. “This is a project that we’ve contemplated for several months and decided to move forward.”

Doctors Hospital has purchased the hospital operations and will lease the facility for an undisclosed amount from Lykins Land Holdings LLC. Assistant Administrator Alexis Brown said the hospital will be investing “several million dollars” to get the hospital reopened.

The Gravette center will offer round-the-clock emergency services and 10 inpatient beds when it opens after the first of the year. Between 30 and 40 doctors, nurses and other employees will be hired.

Richardson said no expansion of services is planned, though urgent care could be offered later.

Gravette, a town of about 2,300 in extreme northwest Arkansas, has been without an inpatient hospital since Gravette Community Hospital closed in 2005.

“Reopening the hospital will do a great deal for the community,” said Gravette Mayor Bill Howard. “We serve people from Missouri, Oklahoma and the northwest corner of Arkansas. It’s important to the whole area.”

Doctors Hospital has facilities in Nixa, Mount Vernon, Rogersville and Webb City, in addition to its main location in north Springfield.

See SBJ’s Dec. 10 issue for more about the Gravette hospital and other changes at Doctors Hospital.