Arkansas senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman hosted a healthcare roundtable discussion in Arkansas to examine the impact and future implications of COVID-19 in the state. Moderated by Arkansas Health Care Association (AHCA) executive director, Rachel Bunch, the event included 15 other experts in varying aspects of Arkansas’ healthcare system and was held at the AHCA office in downtown Little Rock.
Discussion covered workforce concerns, quality of life considerations, CDC and CMS guidance, and the future of Arkansas healthcare industry post-COVID. Arkansas’ long term care facility staff is, for example, among the highest vaccinated in southern states with a vaccination rate of 85.8 percent. Its residents have an even higher percentage of vaccinations, sitting at 88.4 percent as of early February.
“Arkansas’s long term care facility workers are committed to providing quality care for its residents, which means we must critically evaluate quality of life for those who live in our facilities,” said Bunch. “This discussion is vital in order to strategically move forward to meet the needs of Arkansans in the healthcare system.”