Arkansas Methodist Medical Center celebrates 75 years of existence

Paragould, Arkansas – When more than a hundred residents, retired physicians, and nurses made their way back to the hospital where it all started for them, nostalgia permeated the air.

Decades ago, the community founded AMMC to provide healthcare to a region that had only one clinic, located in the parking lot of the post office.

According to Tori Thompson, AMMC’s director of marketing and The Foundation, the AMMC family is preparing to serve Northeast Arkansas for a further 75 years by investing in new equipment!

“We are continuously working to enhance the caliber of our equipment and services so that we can better serve our community in the years to come,” Thompson stated.

AMMC was able to purchase a new MRI equipment thanks to a $500,000 Delta Regional Authority Grant and a private donation.

According to Thompson, the updated machinery will speed up diagnosis and enhance patient care.

“More patients can be scheduled for MRIs because we will have faster and better results,” Thompson stated.

Dr. Larry Lawson, a general surgeon who started his career at AMMC in the 1960s, was one of the guests.

He thought about the developments in medical technology. He remembered a crucial case that would have benefited from the use of contemporary imaging methods.

“It was quite grave. The patient could have had surgery two weeks sooner if we had gotten a CAT scan, Dr. Lawson stated.

As a way to honor AMMC’s community service, October 16 will now be recognized as “AMMC Day” throughout the city.

The purpose of this day, according to Paragould Mayor Josh Agee, is to commemorate the committed employees who give life-saving care and to emphasize the hospital’s longstanding role as a pillar of the community.