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Baptist Health Breaks Ground For Conway's Second Hospital

Baptist CEO Troy Wells and Governor Mike Beebe among others breaking ground in Conway.
Jacob Kauffman
/
KUAR

Baptist Health ceremonially broke ground Monday on Conway’s second hospital. Faulkner County leaders and Governor Mike Beebe joined company officials in plowing gold painted shovels into piles of soil on the 37-acre site along Interstate 40.

Baptist CEO Troy Wells says the $130 million, 96-bed hospital will help serve a growing population with a variety of needs.

“People from all around Conway will be able to easily access the medical center. We’ve got some great doctors here in Conway. We’ve talked with them about what other medical specialties they might need to have access to in this community,” said Wells.

Governor Beebe says the hospital and the salaries it provides will help bolster Conway’s economy. The governor says healthcare is a particularly important component of an area’s outlook.

“At the most basic level a community that has good healthcare is a community that’s able to attract other businesses; it’s a community where people want to live. It’s an indication of the vibrancy of the community and this is no exception. Conway continues to grow,” said Beebe.

The hospital is expected to employ over 200 construction workers through 2016. Wells says when operational, the facility will employee 425 people.

Jacob Kauffman is a former news anchor and reporter for KUAR.
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