De Queen mayor announces agreement on hospital sale

DE QUEEN, Ark.—Mayor Jeff Brown announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting there is an agreement between Jorge Perez, owner of the De Queen Regional Medical Center, and the company Healthy Connections Inc., which plans to purchase the medical center.

Brown said that Healthy Connections has been working out details of the agreement, so he couldn’t say anything earlier.

“They are currently working out the details. “There have been several of us working very hard to make this happen,” Brown said.

Brown said he had received permission from Healthy Connections to announce the agreement at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I wanted to make sure the agreement was in place before I could make this statement.” Brown said.

According to its website, Healthy

Connections has nine locations throughout Southwest Arkansas including a clinic in De Queen.

The future of the hospital has been the topic of much debate in recent months. In December, employees did not receive paychecks on time, prompting local and state officials to meet and address concerns about the hospital’s possible closure.

Members of the community also held several fundraisers for hospital employees and their families.

Recently, tenants of De Queen Regional Medical Center received notice that electric utility service to the building was scheduled to be disconnected on Feb.11 for non-payment or electric service. Tenants were given the option of putting electric service in their names. However, the past due amount was paid and power was restored to the hospital.