Mississippi County Hospital System in Blytheville, Ark., and Jonesboro, Ark.-based St. Bernards Healthcare finalized an agreement for St. Bernards to manage two Mississippi County facilities beginning January 2026.
Under the agreement, St. Bernards will assume management of Great River Medical Center in Blytheville and South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center in Osceola. Both facilities hold Level IV trauma certifications and received “Bronze” status in 2025 from the American Stroke Association. SMC Regional also earned “Diamond Status” from the Arkansas Department of Health for stroke imaging response. St. Bernard’s has a 457-bed regional medical center.
“Our healthcare providers have served Mississippi County since 1953 with a mission to restore, maintain and improve the health of everyone in the communities we serve,” said John Logan, MCHS board president, in a news release. “Working together, we now have an opportunity to enhance locally based healthcare. This agreement with St. Bernards sets up our system for future success. Our ultimate goal is to expand healthcare services in Mississippi County without the burden of traveling to larger cities.”
Through the partnership, MCHS patients will gain access to St. Bernards’ specialist network and resources aimed at expanding rural healthcare access, including digital transformation and infrastructure investment. The partnership will also focus on expanding the workforce and clinical services, care coordination and technology integration.
Greater River Medical Center is a full service hospital with Joint Commission accreditation while SMC Regional Medical Center is a rural emergency hospital with emergency care, imaging and outpatient services.
