FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Health care organizations in Northwest Arkansas will receive money from businesses and other organizations through the Northwest Arkansas Council, according to a news release from the council.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, RevUnit, Walmart Foundation and Walton Family Foundation will donate a total of more than $3 million in in-kind donations and financial support to health care organizations in response to covid-19, according to the release.
Much of money will be used to increase testing capacity and provide personal protective equipment for hospitals. Additional money would be available to support front-line health care workers, according to the news release. Part of the purpose of the donations is to prevent furloughs of clinical front-line health care workers needed to treat patients infected with covid-19.
“Front-line health care workers across the country are working tirelessly and at risk of running out of supplies and PPE,” Eric Pianalto, president at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers, said in the news release. “We are grateful for the coordinated effort by the council that will alleviate these concerns and allow our staff to effectively respond to the community’s health care needs.”
Bentonville technology company RevUnit created a web-based interface for regional hospitals to track existing cases, bed availability, status of testing and available supplies to ensure regional coordination and cooperation.
“This joint effort demonstrates how the Northwest Arkansas community is coming together in a powerful way to respond to an unexpected crisis,” Nelson Peacock, president and chief executive officer of the council, said in the news release. “Support from these great partners will allow the region’s health care providers to continue to protect staff, patients and keep our community safe.”
