DE QUEEN, Arkansas - Sevier County officially owns the land where the new hospital will be built.
The 18.52 acre site, located four miles north of De Queen, will be the location for the new hospital that is scheduled to open in late summer 2021, said Sevier County Medical Board Chairman Dr. Steve Cole.
"It's finally done. We started the process last September because it had to be in a particular location and what we set our sights on is what we wound up with," Cole said.
Sevier County voters approved the sales tax to support the hospital during an October 2019 special election.
The county's medical board cancelled its April meeting because of COVID-19 but still communicates through email and conference calls, Cole said.
Phase One of the environmental study was done Tuesday.
"Once that is done, the ball really gets rolling," Cole said.
Construction on the hospital should start soon.
"I've been visiting with the architect daily," he said.
Since the hospital is sales tax supported, bonds will be sold to pay for it. However, the bond market is in flux because of COVID-19 and the board has agreed to continue to monitor the economy and rely on counsel for the proper time to sale bonds, Cole said.
The hospital will open as a 12-bed acute care unit with future plans to become a critical care facility.
When operational, the hospital should employ 105 medical professionals and staff.