Mena Regional Health System

01/21/2026

❄️ Cold Weather Safety Tips — Stay Safe This Weekend! ❄️

With some potential weather threats and cooler temps in the forecast, it’s important to be prepared and protect yourself and your loved ones from cold-related illnesses like hypothermia. Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it — and can be dangerous if not recognized early.

📌 Know the Warning Signs:
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Extreme tiredness or confusion
• Slurred speech or fumbling hands
• Pale, cold skin or loss of consciousness
• In infants: bright red, cold skin and very low energy

🌡️ Cold Weather Safety Tips:
✔ Stay indoors and in a warm area as much as possible.
✔ Increase fluid intake — warm drinks like broth or juice are great (avoid alcohol & caffeine).
✔ Dress in layers; wear a hat, scarf, and waterproof boots to help retain body heat.
✔ Take frequent breaks in a warm place if you must be outdoors.
✔ Check on neighbors, especially older adults and young children.

If you or someone else shows signs of hypothermia, move to a warm area and seek medical help immediately — severe hypothermia is a medical emergency.

Stay safe and warm this weekend, Mena! 💙

Department of Health and Senior Services Hypothermia web pages

01/20/2026

✨ Happy CRNA Week! ✨

This week, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate our amazing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Pyke Bobo and Zach Mesko, for the vital role they play in caring for our patients at Mena Regional.

From keeping patients safe and comfortable during surgery to providing calm, expert care in high-pressure moments, Pyke and Zach bring exceptional skill, professionalism, and compassion to our surgical team every day. Our operating rooms wouldn’t run the same without them!

Thank you, Pyke and Zach, for your dedication to our patients and to our community — we appreciate you more than you know! 💙

01/16/2026

01/15/2026

🩺💙 Respiratory Viruses & Older Adults: What You Should Know

For adults 65 and older, illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV aren’t just uncomfortable — they can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, and longer recovery times.

As we age, our immune systems don’t respond as strongly, making it harder to fight off respiratory infections. That’s why prevention and early care are so important.

✔️ Stay up to date on recommended vaccines
✔️ Wash hands often and avoid close contact with sick individuals
✔️ Wear a mask if you’re feeling unwell or around someone who is
✔️ Seek medical care early if symptoms begin

⚠️ Watch for symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, or body aches. If you or a loved one start feeling worse, don’t wait to get checked out — early treatment can help prevent serious illness.

Let’s do our part to help protect our seniors and keep our community healthy. 💙

01/14/2026

Today, hospital and EMS healthcare leaders from across Southwest Arkansas met in Hope, Arkansas as the Southwest Arkansas Healthcare Consortium with a shared goal: partnering together to better serve the citizens and communities of our region while supporting long-term healthcare stability.

Through open discussion and collaboration, these leaders are focused on strengthening healthcare across Southwest Arkansas today and into the future.

We would like to recognize and thank our hospital and EMS partners who participated in today’s meeting:
• Arkansas Rural Health Partnership
• Howard Memorial Hospital
• Little River Memorial Hospital
• Mena Regional Health System
• Ouachita County Medical Center
• Pafford Medical Services
• Sevier County Medical Center
• Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center
• Southwest EMS

Thank you to each organization for your leadership, partnership, and commitment to the people of Southwest Arkansas.

01/13/2026

01/12/2026

💊✨ Happy National Pharmacist Day + Employee Spotlight: Heather Tinnell ✨💊

Today, on National Pharmacist Day, we’re proud to spotlight Heather Tinnell, one of our amazing pharmacists here at Mena Regional Health System! 💙

Heather’s very first job was working for her dad at Chiquita’s, where she learned the value of hard work early on. Today, she says what she enjoys most about working at Mena Regional is the people — and we’re incredibly lucky to have her as part of our team.

Outside of work, Heather is a busy mom to Karsyn (12), Kamryn (9), Kase (8), and Charlie Kate (2), and she also has three furry companions — Muffins, Rambo, and Milo 🐾. Her hobbies include reading, singing, gardening, and crafting, and she loves hiking, traveling, and spending time with family. On her bucket list? Trips to Germany and Greece — and we have no doubt she’ll get there!

Pharmacists play a vital role in patient safety and care, and Heather’s dedication, attention to detail, and heart for others make a difference every single day.

Join us in thanking Heather — and all pharmacists — for the incredible work they do. 💊💙
Happy National Pharmacist Day!

01/12/2026

🩺 Colon Cancer Screening & Treatment — Close to Home

If colore**al cancer screening or treatment is needed, Tomas Sullivan, MD provides colon and re**al surgical care right here in our community.

Preventive colore**al cancer screenings — including colonoscopies — are covered by Arkansas Medicaid for eligible adults, typically starting at age 45 (or earlier based on risk factors).

Why screening matters:
✔️ Colon cancer often has no early symptoms
✔️ Screenings can find cancer early, when it’s most treatable
✔️ Polyps can be removed before they become cancer

💙 If you have Arkansas Medicaid, your screening may be covered at no cost.

📞 If you’re due — don’t wait.
Talk with your provider about scheduling your colore**al cancer screening today.

01/10/2026

Senior Behavioral Health sincerely thanks Ann Hoyle of Ann’s Quilts and Collectibles for the beautiful quilts she so thoughtfully created and donated for our patients. Your generosity has touched many hearts, and we are incredibly thankful for you.

01/07/2026

✨👶 Welcome to the World Wednesday 👶✨

We’re excited to welcome all the sweet babies born in December to the world! 💕
Each new arrival is a beautiful reminder of hope, joy, and new beginnings.

The photos shared here are just a few of the precious babies we were honored to welcome at Mena Regional. Thank you to the families who trusted us with such a special moment. 💗

Welcome, little ones — your journey has just begun! 🌟

01/06/2026

Come and shop the Mena Regional Gift Shop Christmas sale!!!

01/06/2026

🩺 Parents — Your Child’s Wellness Visits Matter 👶🧒

From newborns to teens, regular well-child visits help make sure your child is growing, developing, and staying healthy. These appointments allow providers to check milestones, give recommended vaccines, and catch concerns early — when they’re easiest to treat.

💙 Medicaid covers well-child wellness visits at no cost to families.

📅 Well-Child Visit Schedule (Birth–15 Months is especially important):
• Newborn (0–5 days)
• 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months
• 15 months — a key visit for developmental screening and important vaccines

After that, children continue with visits at:
• 18 & 24 months
• 30 & 36 months
• Yearly visits through age 18 (ARKids B)
• Through age 21 with ARKids A

👩‍⚕️ Mena Medical Associates providers are here for your family:
Dr. Aldrich, Dr. Amanda Paramore, Chip Koppien, DNP, FNP-C, Dr. Forrest, Olivia Bayne, APRN, Dr. JJ Williams, and Emily Turner, APRN

📞 If your child is due — or overdue — now is the time to schedule.
Preventive care today helps protect your child’s health tomorrow.