Hospital near the edge gets a new wing, life-saving equipment, and the hope of a secure future.

 

Opportunity

 

Though located in a city of less than 10,000, White River Medical Center (WRMC) has burgeoning needs.  The Batesville, Arkansas hospital of 200 beds serves over 75,000 people from the entire region.  Sitting near the New Madrid fault, site of the largest earthquake in U.S. history (in 1811), the Center has also been classified as a Tier 1 emergency response center.  To ensure its ability to provide services in an emergency situation, the Center needed more room.  And because the hospital serves a growing aging population, the need for mammography and breast biopsy equipment had become critical.  WRMC asked Russ Reid to approach congress to secure funding for construction of a new 4-story addition, earthquake response measures, and the purchase of breast health equipment.

 

Approach

 

Russ Reid's government relations team approached Congress to secure funding through the House Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill in FY 2009.  The strategy was to point out the growing needs and lack of adequate health care facilities in the region, and to highlight the catastrophic risk posed by the New Madrid fault.

 

Results

 

To date, Russ Reid has secured the following for White River Medical Center:

 

•     $951,000 for the construction of and equipment for a four-story addition with new patient rooms

•     $238,000 to purchase a new stereotactic breast biopsy table and digital mammopgraphy equipment