CONWAY, Ark. – Within 12 minutes of opening, Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway received its first patient, David Lowry, 57, of Greenbrier, in the Emergency Room. Lowry was treated and released.
“I had forgotten this was the opening day,” said Lowry. “I’m honored to be the first patient and thankful Baptist Health is here.”
While Lowry was the first ER patient, Wanda Bouyear, 81, of Greenbrier, was the first patient to undergo surgery at the new facility. Bouyear was admitted as an inpatient on Friday, Sept. 16, and had hip replacement surgery on Saturday, Sept. 17.
“From the time that we arrived till we left, she [my Mom] was treated with the best care that I have ever seen anywhere,” said Bouyear’s daughter Pam Malabanan. “Not one time did the staff not give her the attention, care, support and understanding that was needed before and after her surgery. The nurses were Amazing! No other words can describe their actions.”
The $150 million, 260,000-square-foot medical center opened last Friday with 325 healthcare professionals, 24 available beds, six operating rooms, a helipad and a full-service emergency room staffed with specialized personnel including paramedics.
Some of the services that the hospital offers include surgery; imaging; urology; dialysis; physical, speech and occupational rehab; wound care; mammography; gastroenterology; oncology; cardiology diagnostics; and nephrology. The women’s center, which will offer labor and delivery services, is still under construction and is expected to open in November.
Baptist Health is an Arkansas-based, locally owned and managed, not-for-profit, and faith-based healthcare organization. Baptist Health is also Arkansas’ most comprehensive healthcare organization with more than 8,840 employees operating nine hospitals. For more information about Baptist Health, please call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST.