Radiologists at Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas Join Radiology Associates, P.A.

Rogers, AR (August 22, 2006) - Five radiologists practicing at Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers as members of Professional Radiology Services have joined the state's oldest and largest radiology practice group, Radiology Associates, P.A. (RAPA).

Michael Berry, M.D.; Glen Chitwood, M.D.; John Hedgecock, M.D.; David Jong, M.D., and Jon Paul Shoppach, M.D., all board certified by the American College of Radiology, merged with the 45-physician practice to provide enhanced imaging services to Northwest Arkansas patients.

"This merger will significantly impact the quality of medical imaging in Northwest Arkansas," said George Flynn, CEO of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. "For instance, the ability of RAPA to provide links to cutting edge Vitrea imaging software will strengthen the services provided to our patients with heart disease. Using this software, CT images of the heart and vascular system are clearer and easier to manipulate."

Because RAPA radiologists have subspecialties in every area of the profession, Northwest Arkansas patients now will have immediate access to radiologists with specialties in abdominal imaging, angiography, body imaging, gastrointestinal radiology, interventional radiology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), musculoskeletal imaging, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine thoracic imaging and women’s imaging.

"We are proud to begin a new relationship with Mercy Health System and our five new partners," said James McDonald, M.D., Chairman of the RAPA Board of Directors. "RAPA radiologists are committed to providing the best quality care possible for every patient at every location every day."

Throughout its history, RAPA radiologists have provided significant national leadership to Radiology and consistently have been at the forefront of technologic innovation. In the early 1970s, the British EMI Corporation installed the 23rd CT Scanner in history in RAPA's main office in the Doctors Building in Little Rock. In the early 1980s, RAPA took delivery of the first MRI Scanner in Arkansas, among the first 100 clinical MRI installations in the world.

In more recent times, RAPA has grown to serve more than 20 hospitals and outpatient imaging facilities in Arkansas, attracting radiologists from the best programs in the county, including the Mallinckrodt Institute, Duke University, Southwestern in Dallas and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Among the five new partners, Dr. Berry had a fellowship in Interventional Radiology a Radiology residency from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS). Dr. Chitwood's Radiology residency was at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Dr. Hedgecock had a fellowship in Neuroradiology and a Radiology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Jong's Radiology residency was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital & Clinics. Dr. Shoppach's Radiology residency was at UAMS.

Radiology Associates, P.A., offers state-of-the-art, high quality medical imaging, with professional services offered in imaging centers, clinics and hospitals. RAPA Radiologists, all of whom are board certified, use technology to see and treat patients inside and out, often without costly and invasive surgery. RAPA accepts most major insurance plans, including all Blue Cross Blue Shield products.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit, faith-based health system, provides healthcare services to residents in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The System includes St. Mary's Hospital, The Gardens at Osage Terrace Assisted Living Facility and Mercy Medical Clinics in 22 locations throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Mercy is currently construction a state-of-the-art medical campus just east of Interstate 540 off of New Hope Road in southwest Rogers. When completed in 2007, the campus will include a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and a medical office building to accommodate 90 physicians.