You&YourHealth

Vision 2017
Area medical clinics and centers
looking to improve in 2o17
SAMA Healthcare
The South Arkansas Medical Associates (SAMA) Healthcare Services completed a 10,000 square foot expansion to their building in the year 2016, making it a total of 30,000 square feet.
In 2016, SAMA Healthcare added a new doctor and a nurse practitioner, as
well as several other nursing positions.
“We’ve added 10 jobs per year for the last four years,” said Administrator
Pete M. Atkinson, MHA. “We are planning to add four or five new positions this year.”
They also added a psychologist in July of 2016 that is in El Dorado three days, every other week, seeing SAMA patients.
Starting in 2017 and going on for the next five years, SAMA is joining the Accountable Care Organization (ACO), which will help take them to the next level as far as being a patient center medical home. Part of this organization is increasing behavioral health services in family practice clinics. They hope to add more psychology services and a social worker at SAMA in 2017.
One of the reasons SAMA is unique is that they are a ‘one stop shop.’ Their services include a CT, ultrasound, bone density, X-ray and a full lab and pharmacy. SAMA is the only clinic in the state that has it all under one roof, Atkinson said.
They hope to replace their CT and ultrasound equipment and add another X-ray room in 2017.
They also want to increase the geriatric services and work on women’s health services, specifically preventative services.
The clinic is open seven days a week. “Historically, we’ve had one doctor working on the weekends, and we’ve started adding another nurse practitioner there to accommodate the volume we’re seeing,” Atkinson said.
They added a specialist area in 2016 including a podiatrist that commutes from Camden twice a week. They hope to add additional specialists in 2017.
The clinic is approaching 22,000 active patients.
For more information you can call 870-862-2400 or visit their website at www.samahealthcare.net. They are located on 600 South Timberlane Road.
Kaitlyn Rigdon/El Dorado News-Times
SAMA Healthcare: The South Arkansas Medical Associates (SAMA) Healthcare Services is located on 600 South Timberlane Road.
South Arkansas Center on Aging
The South Arkansas Center on Aging (SACOA) Education Center is led by Dr. Angela Norman, who is ded-
icated to creating well-informed communi- ties, supporting caregivers and protecting those living with dementia, allowing them to safely interact with their surroundings and remain active in their communities. As the aging population continues to rise in South Arkansas, SACOA is committed to providing services that improve the health and well-being of older adults living within our region. The center is also committed to adapting their services to meet the chang- ing needs of our community.
The center’s Schmieding Caregiver Training program offered an increased number of free family caregiver workshops throughout 2016. The family workshops are adapted to meet the needs of each caregiver. In the fall of 2016, SACOA held a reception to honor all caregivers in our region. The team has also provided numerous hands on dementia experiences to caregivers and others in the community as well as commu- nity programs on dementia and caregiving.
In May of 2016 SACOA sponsored a state- wide program to introduce the concept of making ‘Arkansas Dementia Friendly.’ As part of preparing communities to become dementia friendly, Robert Rupp, CEO of the Medical Center of South Arkansas, gave his commitment to support SACOA’s efforts locally. Training programs have begun and they will continue to train and certify all qualified staff at MCSA in dementia care and to work towards making MCSA demen- tia friendly.
The Mayor of El Dorado, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Union County Sherriff, Chief of Police and Chief of Fire have all committed to making Union County dementia friendly. In late spring of 2016 SACOA held its first program for first responders of the region. Over 100 first responders were trained in dementia care in 2016/17 thus far. Additional First Responder Dementia Care Trainings are scheduled throughout 2017.
One of SACOA’s newest developments is the Caregiver SUCCESS program. SUCCESS stands for serving the unique needs of the caregiver living in the community by providing enhanced support services. The mission of the SUCCESS program is to improve the health and well-being of the caregiver that is providing care to someone living with dementia. The increasing aging population of Union County correlates with an increased number of caregivers, who
WGold Cross Urgent Care
hen Gold Cross Urgent Care opened in June 2015, it was the first Urgent Care Clinic
in South Arkansas. Drs. Ugo and Ezinne Nwude saw a need in El Dorado and South Arkansas, and wanted to help meet that need. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 2 years since the clinic has opened and served the area.
The year 2016 proved to be a successful year for the clinic. To keep up with the rising demand of patient needs, they made some changes to the clinic that will benefit the community.
The clinic has added a new full-time Nurse Practitioner, Tiffany Hearnsberger to our staff. She is from the Village area, and she is excited to serve their patients.
The clinic has extended their service hours to Monday through Sat from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 6. They now accept all major insurances. They also have a weight loss clinic within the Urgent
Kaitlyn Rigdon/News-Times
Health & Rehabilitation: Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation is located at 2002 Tim- berwood Road in El Dorado.
Kaitlyn Rigdon/News-Times
Center on Aging: The South Arkansas Center on Aging is located at 106 West Main, Suite 310 above PJ's Coffee.
often feel isolated and have reported lack of support. Health clinics in Union County are limited in the time it takes to dis- cuss resource options, provide necessary education, offer support through coaching, and assess the health and emotional status of the caregiver. The Caregiver SUCCESS program is designed to support and sustain the caregiver through education, resource allocation, and one-on-one coaching/coun- seling.
New in 2017: Ageless Grace — Cutting- edge brain fitness program based on neuro- plasticity that activates all five functions of the brain. Anti-aging, creative, imaginative. Tools for life-long comfort and ease.
For more information on South Arkansas Center on Aging Education Center or the services provided, please call 870-881-8969 or visit the center at 106 West Main Suite 310 (above PJ’s Coffee) in beautiful down- town El Dorado.
Care. Potential patients may call the clin- ic number and see Dr. Ezinne Nwude or Hearnsberger for an appointment.
“We are excited about the great working relationship we have with the physicians in El Dorado and beyond. These doctors’ clinics call and have us see some of their patients whom they cannot see the same day. We are excited to treat them and send them back to their doctors along with their medical records. We are a full service urgent care and walk-in clinic, equipped with lab, X-ray, and a courteous staff. We are excited to provide this much needed service in South Arkansas,” said Drs. Ugo and Ezinne Nwude.
The clinic looks forward in 2017 to con- tinue to assist the Primary Care Physicians in El Dorado in treating their patients. They offer same day appointments, 7 days a week.
They thank El Dorado and South Arkansas for their continued support of the clinic.
Gold Cross Urgent Care is located at 701 West Ave. in El Dorado. They can be reached at 870-862-2331.
Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation
Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation successfully rehabilitated 196 patients that
got to go home in the year 2016 and hopes to double that number in 2017. These patients met their physical goals were able to go home and live inde- pendently again.
Their Specialty Rehabilitation Unit opened in 2014 and contains 10 private rooms. This year, they are joining eight more rooms to the unit. “There’s a wait- ing list to get in the original unit so we decided to expand it and include the rooms on 600 hall too,” Administrator Dana Barker said.
Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation offers a range of medical care and ther- apeutic resources including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dieticians, social services,
health monitoring and physicians, nurs- es and other medical specialists.
They can accommodate 106 patients and all patient rooms include private restrooms, personal sinks, call-light systems, ample closet, bureau and bed- side storage space.
Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation has also successfully stayed below state and national averages on their re-hos- pitalization rates, which means patients who were admitted, didn’t go back to the hospital within 30 days.
Also, Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation has a new facility pet, Ellie Mae the dog.
“Our biggest accomplishment is the people we rehabilitate, and get to go back home and live independently,” Barker said.
For more information on Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation,
please call 870-863-8090. They are located at 2002 Timberwood Road in El Dorado.
You and Your Health
Gold Cross: Gold Gross Urgent Care is located at 701 West Ave. in El Dorado.
Kaitlyn Rigdon/News-Times