Rogers-based Mercy Northwest Arkansas said Wednesday it plans to invest nearly a quarter billion on capital projects and equipment over the next five years. The health system's $247 expansion in healthcare facilities and services will create 1,000 new jobs.
"Our hospital and clinics have been serving the community at a very high capacity," Eric Pianalto, Mercy Hospital president, said in a statement. "To ensure we carry out our mission and continue to meet the needs of Northwest Arkansas, we developed this $247 million community presence plan that will allow us to serve our patients into the future by providing additional access to quality care and advancing the region as a healthcare destination."
The health system outlined several plans for the early phases of the expansion:
- A new patient tower that will increase the number of hospital beds at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas from 200 to 300. Construction will accommodate future inpatient growth, with the goal of a total of 360 beds.
- The addition of multiple primary care and specialty clinics in Benton County and north Washington County.
- Enhancements to the hospital's specialty care services, including the heart and vascular center and women's and children's services.
- The establishment of a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences community internal medicine residency program in partnership with the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville. The program will provide training to eight physicians in its first year, growing to 24 doctors in three years.