Business news in brief

Siloam Springs lab gets gold seal

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital’s laboratory recently earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation. The hospital underwent an unannounced on-site survey in which a team of expert surveyors evaluated the laboratory.

The Gold Seal was awarded to the hospital for demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health-care quality and safety in laboratories.

The Joint Commission standards address processes that follow specimens from the doctor’s order into the laboratory from collection then back to the patient through result reporting, focusing on high-quality, safe laboratory services and patient care.

The Joint Commission has been evaluating and accrediting laboratory services since 1979 and today accredits almost 2,000 organizations.

Arvest named 27th-leading farm lender

The American Bankers Association named Arvest Bank one of the leading lenders to U.S. agriculture.

Arvest ranked 27th nationally with approximately $462 million in agricultural loans at the end of 2012, according to the American Bankers Association’s annual list of the 100-largest farm lenders. This compares with $415 million in total farm loans outstanding for Arvest in 2011.

Since 2006, total farm loans at Arvest (farm production loans plus farmland loans) have more than doubled. The bank showed $227 million in farm loans in 2006. Since 2006, total farm loans made by all banks have increased 67 percent from $49.1 billion in 2006 to $81.8 billion in 2012.

Bentonville nursing center gets a nod

Bentonville Manor Nursing Home received a 2013 Bronze Commitment to Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s National Quality Award program. The nursing home at 224 S. Main St. in Bentonville has 63 beds. It opened in 1975.

The National Quality Award program honors facilities nationwide that have demonstrated commitment to improving quality care for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. It is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldridge Performance Excellence Program, starting with elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations.

Bronze-level recipients may move forward in developing approaches to meet silver-level criteria. Award presentations will be made Oct. 6-9 at the 64th annual convention in Phoenix.

Tyson, Rockline Industries donate to relief

Tyson Foods’ disaster relief teams served more than 80,000 meals to survivors and rescue workers in the aftermath of the May tornado in Moore, Okla.

The company’s 53-foot Meals That Matter mobile feeding unit left the company’s Springdale headquarters the day after the tornado hit. The trailer was filled with food, ice and other essential supplies.

Rockline Industries donated more than 12,000 packages of cleaning and personal-care wipes to the American Red Cross to assist with Oklahoma relief efforts.

Rockline Industries’ headquarters is based in Sheboygan, Wis., with neighboring manufacturing facilities in Springdale and Booneville.

Health clinic named agency of year

Washington Regional Clinic for Senior Health was recently named Agency of the Year by the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, a membership organization that promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers.

The organization recognized Washington Regional Clinic for Senior Health for providing comprehensive care to older area residents with a multidisciplinary team of social workers, doctors and nurses with specialized training in geriatrics.

Joint replacement program approved

Washington Regional Medical Center recently earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its joint replacement program for knees, hips and shoulders.

Washington Regional’s Total Joint Center opened in January 2011 to provide specialized education and a team of surgeons and staff focused on the recovery and rehabilitation of joint replacement patients. During the voluntary certification process, the center invited expert surveyors from the commission to evaluate the program’s compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and families, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. Dr. Kris Hanby is the medical director of the Total Joint Center.

Briefs are for businesses in Northwest Arkansas that are new, have moved or closed, opened a new branch, changed owners or have been honored by an independent organization. Email items to [email protected]. Information will be published as space allows.

Business, Pages 56 on 07/07/2013

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