Baxter Regional Medical Center changing its name

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (KY3) - Baxter Regional Medical Center announced a name change to Baxter Health.

Hospital officials say the decision better reflects Baxter Health as a health network. Baxter Health consists of 40 locations across 11 counties in Arkansas and Missouri.

“We’re bigger than just the four walls here at Baxter Medical Center,” said Ron Peterson, President, and CEO. “A lot of people didn’t realize that this clinic was a part of a health system, and our research showed people like to know when their local clinic is a part of a larger health system.”

Baxter Health says the global pandemic inspired the decision to rename.

“We started about a year ago looking at how COVID really changed the face of healthcare and the face of healthcare providers,” Peterson explained. “We wanted to make sure we are still in line with what is going on out there.”

Nurses and staff are hopeful the rebranding will impact staff recruitment and retention, which has been a growing concern since the pandemic.

“I’m very excited about rebranding. It’s a good change, a fresh look for us,” said Kamie Swanson, a registered nurse who has spent six years at Baxter Regional. “I think everybody that works here wants to do their best and take great care of our patients. I think that’s what we’re known for.”

Changes will come in a “slow rollout” over the next three-to-five years. Baxter Health officials say they want to be financially minded as possible. The change will not impact care or health insurance coverage.

“A lot of those things will stay the same for that official paperwork, but our DBA or Doing-Business-As is going to be Baxter Health,” said Peterson. “So there really should be no implications from a health insurance coverage and what’s going on there.”

CLICK HERE for more information on the name change and meaning behind Baxter Health logo.

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