Fort Smith Clinic Gets $36K Grant for Digital Upgrade

Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith just got the funding it needs to leap into the digital age and serve its community even better.

The clinic received a $36,000 grant from the First United Methodist Church Foundation on September 17th. The money will help transform their entire operation from paper files to a modern electronic medical records system.

About $25,000 will cover the initial setup, including hiring temporary staff to scan and digitize roughly 10 years of patient records. The remaining funds will support subscription costs for the next several years.

The upgrade comes at a crucial time. The clinic's current system is scheduled to be retired in December 2026, making this transition essential for continued operations.

Patti Irwin, CEO of Good Samaritan Clinic, says the new system will launch January 1, 2027. It includes integrated scheduling, electronic prescriptions, and even an artificial intelligence component to help staff work more efficiently.

The technology promises stronger security for sensitive patient information and better prescription management to reduce fraud risks. It will also help coordinate volunteer medical staff schedules and eliminate the costs of storing and retrieving physical records.

The Ripple Effect

This upgrade means more than just modernizing old filing cabinets. Patients at Good Samaritan Clinic will experience better continuity of care as their medical history becomes instantly accessible to their healthcare providers.

The First United Methodist Church Foundation has awarded more than $2 million to local causes in recent years. Ben Shipley, chair of the foundation's board, called the clinic "a valued community partner" whose work strengthens the entire community.

Reverend Blake Bradford, lead pastor of Fort Smith First United Methodist Church, captured what this change really means for the people the clinic serves. "This gift will allow the Clinic to spend less time managing paper and more time listening to patients, caring for families, and helping our neighbors heal," he said.

Implementation begins this November, and by the new year, this free clinic will have the same cutting-edge tools as major hospitals.