An Arkansas hospital has stopped contracting out its anesthesia services. CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs now employs its anesthesia providers directly.
The hospital said the shift gives it more local oversight and lets it tailor clinical operations to its patients, according to a Nov. 2 report from The Sentinel-Record.
Todd Rice, MD, has been named director of anesthesia to lead the newly employed team. Dr. Rice joined CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs in 2022 after four years on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He worked as a registered nurse before earning his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he completed his anesthesiology residency. He also holds an MBA in medical management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Al Blount, the hospital’s chief certified registered nurse anesthetist since 2022, will help lead the anesthesia team through the transition.
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs is part of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health.
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