IBX News

Washington Regional Medical Center, in collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), will expand their graduate medical education program in Northwest Arkansas. This follows the approval of $4.5 million by the PEER Joint Budget Committee for this purpose. The funds were unanimously approved on February 26 and will support an additional 26 medical residency and fellowship slots.

The joint graduate medical education program was initiated after a 2019 study by the Northwest Arkansas Council highlighted a physician shortage in the region. The study recommended expanding such programs to increase doctor numbers and healthcare access. In 2021, Washington Regional, together with UAMS, accepted a geographic wage reclassification from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which enabled an increase in federally funded residency slots.

Since its inception in 2021, the program has established 50 new residency positions, including 24 slots in internal medicine. The newly announced funding will facilitate 26 more slots across emergency medicine, neurology, general surgery, transitional year programs, and fellowships in high-demand internal medicine subspecialties.

Larry Shackelford, President and CEO of Washington Regional, remarked on the benefits: “Expanding graduate medical education is a win for all of Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding area.” He noted that most physicians completing their residency training in Arkansas tend to remain there to practice. Shackelford also emphasized economic advantages: “Once fully implemented, the UAMS/Washington Regional Graduate Medical Education Program will have a $54 million impact on our economy as each residency position generates $715k in economic impact annually.”

Ryan Cork, MSHA, vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Region expressed gratitude towards the PEER Joint Budget Committee: “Expanding residency slots in Northwest Arkansas is critical to meeting the growing healthcare needs of our communities.”

The progress of graduate medical education has been evaluated by the Northwest Arkansas Healthcare Transformation Committee. They found significant advancements due to Washington Regional's partnership with UAMS but noted that further growth is necessary to match population increases and replace retiring physicians.

“This additional $4.5 million will help Washington Regional and UAMS continue to meet the needs of our growing community while ensuring patients can receive specialized care right here in Northwest Arkansas,” said Shackelford.

For more information about the program, visit wregional.com/GME.