Missouri-based Mercy Health plans on laying off 300 to 350 workers next week, the hospital system said Thursday.
Nancy Corbett, a spokesman for Mercy Health, said in an email she could not say how many Arkansas workers will be part of the layoff. In Arkansas, Mercy Health has eight acute care and specialty hospitals, and 67 outpatient facilities.
In a release, the hospital system said the move comes as the company adapts to the Affordable Care Act, budget cuts and the lack of Medicaid expansion in most of the states where it operates. The health system's plans to simplify its organization include eliminating jobs in all the states where it operates, with the majority of the jobs being in leadership positions.
Those whose jobs are being eliminated will be notified next week, the company said.
Mercy Health has more than 40,000 workers and 46 hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Maumelle firm's drone usage OK'd
A Maumelle company that specializes in aerial videography has gained approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones.
Airborne Information Systems, also known as Aerial Patrol Inc., has been granted an exemption from the FAA because the use of a drone by the company is "in the public interest," according to a letter from the agency.
The company is allowed to use a drone for services including photography, videography, thermal imaging and inspection of electric transmission lines and substations, according to a May 12 letter from the FAA.
"We specifically got this to enhance our existing services," said Zane Anderson, president of Airborne Information Systems. "We don't know where it's gong to lead but we are excited to be on the leading edge."
State index jumps 3.45 to 375.63
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, climbed 3.45 to 375.63 Thursday.
"U.S. stocks surged higher on Thursday buoyed by enthusiasm over commentary by the Fed which indicated that it would move slower than expected while raising interest rates," said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
Shares of Murphy USA rose 2.5 percent on average volume.
Simmons First National gained 2.5 percent on almost double its normal volume.
Total volume of the index was 19.4 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 06/19/2015