Baptist Memorial and AMMC celebrate merger and share plans for the future
Paragould, Ark., March 20, 2026– Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the United States, held a news conference on Friday to celebrate its merger with Arkansas Methodist Medical Center and address the future of the hospital.
Today represents the culmination of nearly a year of planning to ensure a smooth transition and conclusion to the merger between Baptist Memorial Health Care and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. When we were approached with an opportunity to merge with AMMC, it was important our values and goals aligned in a way that would support sustainable health care for the region while safeguarding AMMC’s legacy. I believe we have accomplished that, and it is my honor to welcome the AMMC team to the Baptist Memorial family.
The merger, first discussed in April 2025, includes the transfer of all AMMC assets, including the 129-bed hospital, 91-bed Chateau on the Ridge Assisted Living facility and eight medical clinics, to Baptist Memorial Health Care, and renaming the hospital to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould.
This merger protects the AMMC legacy and secures the future of the hospital and sustainable access to exceptional health care for the community. I am proud to have supported this merger and helped usher in a stronger foundation for lifesaving health care in the region.
Miller and Little were joined by Melanie Edens, newly appointed administrator and CEO of Baptist Paragould, and more than 75 Baptist Memorial and AMMC employees and community members for the news conference, in which Baptist unveiled the new hospital name.
Seeing logos and signage change has been exciting and visibly represents the transition from Arkansas Methodist Medical Center to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould. These signs are also a symbol of Baptist’s commitment to advancing health care for this community. Today, we celebrate the combining of two great organizations, our shared mission and the path forward to a bright future for health care in the region.
During the news conference, Edens also shared that Baptist would begin installation of its electronic health record system, powered by Epic, the most widely used and comprehensive EHR in the country, at the Paragould hospital. Other changes will include strategic growth through physician recruitment, expansion of services and implementation of telehealth support.
Arkansas Methodist Medical Center was founded in 1949 as a three-room hospital and grew to have a regional presence as a 129-bed hospital with eight clinics and a 91-bed assisted living facility.
Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.
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