New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM at A-State) and the Mississippi County Hospital System (MCHS) announced Thursday (July 31) that the two institutions are entering a partnership to discuss potential collaborative projects aimed at supporting healthcare in Mississippi County.
Central to the partnership is the creation of a family medicine residency program sponsored and operated by NYITCOM at MCHS. The program will place an emphasis on training rural family physicians who provide maternity, pediatric, adult and hospital care.
NYITCOM’s medical students have conducted clinical rotations at MCHS and its partners since the medical school’s inaugural class reached that phase of their education in 2018. Dr. Shane Speights, dean of NYITCOM at A-State, said that portion of the relationship will grow with the new partnership. Additionally, NYITCOM faculty physicians have obtained privileges to admit and see patients at MCHS, which will help increase patient volume and revenue at the hospital.
“As the healthcare landscape continues to change, rural hospitals like the Mississippi County Hospital System are faced with growing operational challenges,” Speights said. “We see this partnership as a model that can help address many of those issues and provide foundational support to the entire communities where these hospitals are so vital.”
NYITCOM at A-State and MCHS will collaborate on clinical operations at the hospital, develop a physician recruitment pipeline, and create health outreach and educational programs to benefit Mississippi County residents. NYITCOM’s Delta Population Health Institute, which serves as the medical school’s community engagement arm, has previously hosted Maternal Health Learning and Care Communities programs in Blytheville and will continue to expand its initiatives in the area.
“Exciting things are happening in Mississippi County, and with growth and development comes an opportunity to address needs in healthcare and health education,” Speights said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of that growth, bringing resources and expertise to create programs that will create generational change in healthcare to the area.”
During the past few years, Mississippi County has experienced significant economic growth, emerging as the largest steel-producing county in the county. With almost 9,000 new jobs created by the steel industry, the region has attracted major employers like Nucor, Big River Steel and Hybar. These developments are complemented by the “Work Here. Live Here.” housing incentive program, which has brought over $40 million in home value to the county in two years.
NYITCOM approached Mississippi County leadership to discuss partnership opportunities, which led to Thursday’s announcement.
“NYITCOM has the resources, expertise, and desire to really make a difference here,” Mississippi County Hospital System board president John Logan said. “We are grateful for the investment that is being made, and we look forward to working together to benefit everyone who calls Mississippi County home.”
“There has never been a better time to invest in Mississippi County, and we are grateful to NYITCOM for the commitment they’ve made here,” Judge John Alan Nelson said. “Our partnership will benefit our communities and increase access to healthcare and health education for all who live and work here. It’s an incredibly exciting initiative for everyone involved and everyone who cares about Mississippi County.”