Gravette's clinic has new owner

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

— The Gravette medical clinic will soon have a new owner.

Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette announced Friday that it will become owner of the clinic, which has operated just east of the hospital since it was founded by Dr. Billy V. Hall.

The change in ownership will become effective Sept. 1, according to a release from OCH, and “in order to ensure a smooth transition, the clinic will be closed August 30 and 31. It will open as the OCH of Gravette Clinic on Wednesday, Sept. 1,” the release stated.

All the current staff and physicians will be retained, the OCH announcement stated, and “patients of the clinic will experience no interruption in their care.

“OCH is a Medicare/Medicaid provider and accepts all commercial insurance,” according to the announcement.

Mercy Health System of NWA operated the clinic the past six years after taking over the operation from Gravette Medical Associates, Inc.

“Mercy Health System-NWA has enjoyed our relationship with the Gravette clinic for the last six years,” said Steve Hughes, chief administrative officer of Mercy Medical Clinics. “We take great pride in having helped the clinic through a difficult period and being able to maintain medical services in the Gravette community.”

Melissa Bradley, a current OCH hospital employee, will assume the role of clinic manager. She has worked 13 years at the Gravette hospital facility in patient care and nursing administration.

“We are working hard toward, and looking forward to, this transition,” Bradley stated. “The clinic physicians are well known and respected in the community. We want to enhance their existing facility and surround them with an expanded environment of care providers. We have an opportunity to redefine health care in this area and we are excited about the challenge.”

While being operated as a department of the hospital, the plans include upgrading the clinic, increasing staff, adding medical providers and further coordinating patient care with the hospital. Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette is located in the former Gravette Medical Center Hospital building. It provides inpatient medical and behavioral health services and a 24-hour fully-staffed emergency room. Other services include a pain management clinic, physical therapy and outpatient services such as lab and radiology. For information about OCH, visit www.OCHonline.com or call 787-529.