History

BRMC opened as Baxter General Hospital in 1963 as an acute-care hospital with 39 beds and four physicians on staff. Today, the facility is a 268 all-private bed, tertiary-care facility with more than 100 physicians on staff. BRMC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized under the laws of Arkansas. An uncompensated board of directors governs our organization.

The hospital encompasses 500,000 square feet of space and is the largest employer in Baxter County, employing more than 1,300 individuals and over 500 volunteers in our auxiliary. We serve patients from a two-state, 14-county area. Subsidiaries of Baxter Regional include Hospice of the Ozarks; Ahrens Clinic; BR Imaging Center; Baxter Rheumatology Clinic; Baxter Urology Clinic; Baxter Orthopaedic Clinic; Baxter Pulmonology Clinic; and Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation Inc.

Baxter Regional Medical Center Timeline

• 2009 – Electronic Medical Records
• 2009 – eICU
• 2009 – Angels
• 2009 – AR Saves
• 2009 – Adopt - A- Room
• 2008 – BRMC Guest House becomes the home of North Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
• 2008 – Chief Nursing Officer Margaret Fielding retires after 25 years at BRMC.
• 2008 – Thanks to the generosity of BRMC employees, 237 children were able to start to school with new backpacks and supplies.
• 2008 – Ambulance Department helps with hurricane relief in Louisiana.
• 2008 – BRMC participates in a countywide disaster drill.
• 2008 – BRMC employees help with Convoy of Hope, a communitywide effort to help those in need, and continue to support Mountain Home Christian Clinic.
• 2008 – Preparation continues for Electronic Medical Records to go live in April 2009. Cerner’s “Smart Semi” gives a view of a hospital room with electronic medical records.
• 2008 – Risk Manager Sandy Priebe, RN, MSN, is appointed to State Nursing Board.
• 2008 – BRMC President and CEO Ron Peterson is named Administrator of the Year by Arkansas Hospital Association.
• 2008 – Women’s Health Education Center is named the Schliemann Center for Women’s Health Education after Josee Schliemann, who also gives her time in service on the Women’s Health Advisory Board.
• 2007 – Backpack drive helps 172 area children with back-to-school needs. Emergency department becomes known as the Cline Emergency Center following a donation by Auxiliary member Betty Cline and her family. With the new name comes a new look, additional space and more streamlined services.
• 2007 – Security cameras are installed around the hospital.
• 2007 – BRMC participates in countywide disaster drill.
• 2007 – BRMC Auxiliary purchases new hydrotherapy pool for the Physical Therapy Department.
• 2007 – Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Jan Heine retires after 16 years with Hospice of the Ozarks.
• 2007 – BRMC receives the Sperduto Award for Highest Employee Satisfaction.
• 2007 – BRMC is named one of the nation’s top performance improvement leader hospitals by Thomson Healthcare.
• 2007 – BRMC Ambulance is named EMT-Paramedic Emergency Medical Service of the Year by EMS Magazine and National Association of EMTs.
• 2007 – Ron Peterson becomes BRMC president and CEO.
• 2006 – Dr. Robert Kerr returns to BRMC to serve as president and CEO. Peitz Cancer Support House expands. Foundation receives gift and names Lagerborg Dining Room. Reppell family donates the Reppell Diabetes Learning Center. BRMC opens four new clinics: Ash Flat, Urology, Pulmonology and Orthopaedic.
• 2005 – Women’s Health Education Center opens in September, followed by Hospice House in November. East and West Lobbies renovations are completed. BRMC opens a clinic in Horseshoe Bend.
• 2004 – BRMC adds new specialists, including endocrinology, cardiovascular surgery and psychiatry. Dr. Robert Kerr retires from practice. Renovation begins on Women’s Health Education Center. Construction begins on new Hospice House. Cath Lab performs 1,000th cardiac catheterization. Women’s Center delivers a new record number of babies. Auxiliary introduces new, yellow-and-navy uniforms.
• 2003 – Baxter Regional Medical Center celebrates its 40th anniversary with a communitywide celebration. Twelve physicians are added to the medical staff. Rheumatology and bariatric surgery services are added. Women’s Center delivers a record number of babies – 720. BRMC nursing staff ranks No. 1 in the nation for employee satisfaction. In October, BRMC Cardiovascular Team celebrates the 1,000th open-heart case. Women’s Health Advisory Board is formed.
• 2002 – New Diabetes Learning Center house is dedicated. Five new physicians are added to the medical staff. BRMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program starts.
• 2001 – BRMC performs 500th open-heart surgery. Remodeling of dietary, materials management and laundry areas is completed. New exterior and interior signage is added. Oncology unit moves to 4 South.
• 2000 – Hospital officially changes name to Baxter Regional Medical Center. Stephen M. Erixon takes over as chief executive officer. Administrator H. William Anderson retires after 17 years of service. Six-story tower that includes a new patient registration area, cardiac care center, relocation of RCU and Hensley Behavioral Health Center is dedicated. Peitz Cancer Support House is dedicated.
• 1999 – Two new surgerysuites and a second cardiac catheterization lab are completed. Hospital performs first angioplasty. Construction of six-story tower begins. New parking lot is added on Hospital Drive. Four new labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms (LDRP) are added to the Women’s Center.
• 1998 – Phase IV expansion begins, including a six-story, 90,000-square-foot patient tower that, when fully complete, will bring the total number of beds to approximately 275. Homes along Hospital and Broadmoor drives are purchased for patients’ family use and additional parking. Hospital performs first cardiac bypass surgery.
• 1996 – Physical Rehabilitation Center opens. Hospital parking increases with the addition of a 187-space parking deck. Ahrens Clinic opens in Yellville.
• 1993 – Phase III expansion doubles the size of the hospital, increasing the number of beds to 197. Home Health and Hospice Building are completed.
• 1992 – Medical Arts Building is completed. Bull Shoals Ambulance Station is established.
• 1990 – Hemodialysis unit opens. Yellville Ambulance Station established.
• 1989 – Phase II plans include an 8,000-square-foot expansion and the addition of a cancer treatment center. Hospital grows to 151 beds.
• 1983 – Phase I expansion is completed. Hospital grows to 133 beds with a three-story addition.
• 1974 – Fifty-two beds and a separate in-service education building are added.
• 1963 – Baxter General Hospital opens with 39 beds and four physicians.