The University of Arkansas System, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Jefferson Hospital Association, the parent organization of Jefferson Regional in Pine Bluff, have finalized a membership substitution agreement that officially brings Jefferson Regional under the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees as the corporate member of Jefferson Hospital Association.
Leaders say the affiliation is designed to improve healthcare delivery throughout the region by expanding access to specialized clinical services, advanced technology and operational resources while building on a partnership that has existed for decades.
“This innovative and collaborative effort reflects upon several pillars of the overall mission of the University of Arkansas System and falls directly in line with the expansion of access to the high-quality services we’re driven to provide all Arkansans in all areas of the state,” said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. “I commend the leadership of both entities for working together to figure out beneficial ways a collaborative effort can be most impactful in this underserved region.”
Jefferson Regional and UAMS have worked together since 1972, when UAMS established its first residency program on the Jefferson Regional campus. Since then, more than 330 resident physicians have completed their training through the program.
UAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., said the new affiliation represents an important investment in the future of healthcare across southeast Arkansas.
“As someone who grew up in Pine Bluff, I understand how important strong local health care is to the people of southeast Arkansas,” Barnes said. “This affiliation is an exciting opportunity for UAMS and Jefferson Regional to work together to expand access to high-quality care, strengthen our healthcare workforce, and improve the health of the communities we serve throughout the region.”
Jefferson Regional President and CEO Brian Thomas said the agreement comes at a time when independent hospitals nationwide continue to face significant challenges and increasingly look toward strategic partnerships to expand services and improve long-term sustainability.
“In recent years, we have seen hospitals across the country experience unprecedented challenges, and many of our fellow standalone hospitals are finding exciting opportunities in forging collaborations with other health systems,” Thomas said.
“An affiliation between Jefferson Regional and UAMS will enhance the efficiencies of caring for patients, provide more healthcare services to underserved populations, and allow us to pursue new opportunities to strengthen our campus,” he added. “We are committed to providing the best care possible for southeast Arkansas, and an enhanced relationship with UAMS will allow us to do so for decades to come.”
Jefferson Regional is one of southeast Arkansas’ largest healthcare providers and employers. The community-owned, nonprofit health system operates a 300-bed acute care hospital in Pine Bluff and employs approximately 1,500 staff members alongside 140 physicians. The hospital serves roughly 225,000 residents across an 11-county region.
In addition to its main hospital campus, Jefferson Regional operates 19 physician practice locations, an urgent care clinic, two wellness centers and the Jefferson Regional School of Nursing. The health system also includes the Jefferson Regional Jones-Dunklin Cancer Center and operates as a Level 3 Trauma Center with around-the-clock trauma coverage.
Hospital and university leaders say the newly finalized affiliation will allow the organizations to build on their longstanding relationship while expanding healthcare services, strengthening the regional workforce and improving access to specialized care for communities throughout southeast Arkansas.
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