Washington Regional Medical Center Emergency Department

Fayetteville, AR

Washington Regional Medical System is a community-owned, locally governed, non-profit health care system in Northwest Arkansas with over 3,400 team members, a 425-bed medical center, 50+ clinic locations and five Centers of Excellence – the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute; Washington Regional Walker Heart Institute; Washington Regional Women and Infants Center; Washington Regional Total Joint Center; and Washington Regional Pat Walker Center for Seniors.

Washington Regional is the region’s only level II trauma center, the only hospital in Northwest Arkansas to earn certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, and one of only two hospitals in the state to earn Spine Surgery certification from The Joint Commission. Washington Regional Medical Center has earned three consecutive Leapfrog “A” grades for patient safety and was named the #1 hospital in Arkansas in 2022-23 by U.S. News & World Report.

A primary goal in the emergency department last year was to increase nursing satisfaction rates. This was achieved by improving nurse to patient ratios and providing resources to prevent workplace stress and burnout. As a result of these efforts, the ED was able to reduce the RN turnover rate by nearly half. Additional goals focused on reducing patient falls and maintaining a less than 1% left without being seen rate since 2019.

The 37-bed emergency department cares for nearly 55,000 patients annually and is honored to be the first ED in Arkansas to receive the Lantern Award.