MRHS Seeks to Purchase Mena Medical Associates Building

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Mena Regional Health System’s Board of Directors met on Monday in a special session to discuss new insurance policies and also, to approve the exploration of a non-taxable bond that would enable them to buy a new building and address new IT equipment.

New insurance policies were discussed that could save the hospital thousands of dollars a year by combining or doing away with some of their current policies. For example, one of the existing policies costs the hospital $4,000 per year to insure the aboveground and underground tanks used for their emergency generators. However, one of their agents was able to discover that the tanks are actually covered under a policy through the state. After discussion of the issue, it was decided to look further into the matter and others in an effort to save money and become more efficient.

The second item on the agenda was the discussion of a bond that would allow the hospital to purchase the new Mena Medical Associates Building. MRHS CEO Jay Quebedeaux said that the payment on the building would be very close to the same amount per month as the lease payment so it “makes for a very good decision.”

“It was built last year and is a future stepping stone for the hospital. “It’s going to meet our needs for family practice for a long time,” said Quebedeaux. He also said that the board would have a more exact figure at their next meeting.

“We’re exciting about purchasing the building. The bond would pay for the purchase of the building and will address the future IT needs as we move forward with our electronic medical records. Everything is electric now and we are addressing that in our five-year plan.”

Quebedeaux also explained that the bond will not create a tax for citizens to pay, that it is just another form of borrowing money. The land and building are actually owned by Longhorn Landholdings and they constructed the building to the specs provided by the hospital. The hospital has a lease arrangement with the option to purchase at fair or market value on day 366.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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