Ark. hospital gets new owner, name on Wednesday - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Ark. hospital gets new owner, name on Wednesday

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HEMPSTEAD COUNTY, AR (KSLA) -

A financially troubled hospital in Hempstead County, Arkansas has a new owner.

Starting Wednesday, the Medical Park Hospital in Hope will become Wadley Regional Medical Center at Hope (WRMC-Hope).

Wadley's parent company bought the Hope Hospital after the sale was approved by a bankruptcy court.

Earlier this year, the Hempstead County hospital couldn't pay it's vendors or employees. Wadley loaned the hospital more than a million dollars to help pay its bills, which was the first step in the hospital's ultimate purchase.

"We are pleased to have the sale process behind us and look forward to the opportunity to provide high quality, affordable healthcare services to the Hope community for many years to come," says Tom Gilbert, chief executive officer at WRMC. Gilbert will assume CEO duties for the Hope facility.

"With just over two weeks in between the court's approval and today's closing, I am extremely proud of the local hospital employees led by Jack Spencer and the WRMC leadership team who worked diligently together to ensure a quick and successful closing."

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