Business news in brief

Hospitals earn inpatient quality awards

Four area hospitals earned awards from the Arkansas Medicaid and Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care as part of the annual Inpatient Quality Incentive program. The groups honored 24 hospitals statewide.

Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers and Mercy Hospital Fort Smith were recognized for outstanding performance in the Inpatient Quality Incentive program's patient quality initiatives.

The incentive program began in 2007 and Arkansas Medicaid has awarded $33 million to participating hospitals that have successfully improved care. This year's performance bonus payments totaled $3.7 million.

The Arkansas Hospital Association, Arkansas Medicaid and Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care worked together to develop the program.

This year's recognized hospitals showed improvement in obstetrics and tobacco-use screening and treatment.

Wal-Mart honored for diversity program

The National Minority Supplier Development Council honored Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for its supplier diversity program during its annual conference last month in San Diego.

The council's Best Tier Two Program Award is given to major corporations dedicated to improving the overall participation of Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American suppliers, and recognizes a corporation's supplier diversity program for its growth strategy.

Michael Bryan, Wal-Mart's senior director of supplier diversity, accepted the award.

Sparks Health System reopens center

Sparks Health System reopened an Orthopedic and Spine Center at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.

The remodeled, nine-bed unit is on the fifth floor of the medical center and features larger hallways and bathrooms and an open therapy space.

The center uses minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery and a cohesive treatment plan that includes private rooms with bathroom, dining room for patients and their coaches, exercise and therapy in a group setting, a step-by-step guidebook that explains surgery and serves as a clinical diary, and community outreach seminars.

Insurance firm marks 100th birthday

BHC Insurance is celebrating 100 years of business by donating more than $3,000 to area nonprofit organizations.

The insurance company opened its doors in Fort Smith in 1915 and now has offices in Fort Smith, Lowell and Sallisaw, Okla.

The company asked community members in September to nominate nonprofits as part of the BHC Gives Back Birth Benefit. The following groups received money Nov. 2: Reynolds Cancer Support House, Beautify Fort Smith, Salvation Army, Elizabeth Richardson Center, Riders United 4 Children and DEB Project.

Original Slim Chickens gets new look

Fayetteville-based Slim Chickens is giving its original restaurant a face-lift. The store at 2120 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville was closed last week and reopens at 10 a.m. Monday with a ribbon-cutting.

The ceremony will also include a donation to the Fayetteville Public School Orchestra.

The remodel will give the original site a current brand design. Slim Chickens started a new store design with its restaurant at 3562 W. Wedington Drive in Fayetteville, which opened in June 2014.

Slim Chickens has 32 company-owned and franchise restaurants in nine states, with six more in development.

Washington Regional joins network

Fayetteville-based Washington Regional joined the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center, a network of hospitals and health systems focused on reducing the cost of health-care products and services through the aggregation of buying power and collective decision-making.

The services center, a VHA Inc. supply network, includes more than 50 health-care organizations across 21 states, with $6.5 billion in supply chain purchasing power.

Since it was established in 2008, the center has provided more than $300 million in savings to its members.

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.

SundayMonday Business on 11/15/2015

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