Amedisys Finalizes Joint Venture with UAMS

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, and NASHVILLE, Tennessee (December 13, 2022)—Amedisys, Inc., a provider of home health, hospice, personal care and high-acuity care, has closed on its joint venture with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to provide home health services in Searcy and Little Rock.

This joint venture is part of the partnership between UAMS, Amedisys and Contessa, an Amedisys company, to offer patients a full spectrum of medical care in the comfort and convenience of their own homes through UAMS Health Comprehensive Care at Home. Clinical services will include Recovery Care at Home, Rehabilitation Care at Home, Palliative Care at Home, Primary Care at Home and Home Health.

Home health services include skilled nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; medical social work; and home health aides to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Home health services will operate as UAMS Health Home Health across 12 counties in Central Arkansas.

“Amedisys is proud to partner with UAMS to provide a comprehensive program that will improve the outcomes and experiences for our patients in Central Arkansas,” stated Amedisys chairman and CEO Paul Kusserow. “Along with Contessa, our partnership allows us to offer the first-of-its-kind model to the region and the first Comprehensive Care at Home program to the state. This also marks the first partnership where Amedisys and Contessa are delivering this integrated model of comprehensive care in the home from the outset—a model we look to provide with other innovative health system partners nationwide.”

“UAMS is leading the ambitious goal of making Arkansas the healthiest state in the region, and this strategic initiative supercharges that vision,” said Cam Patterson, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are thrilled to partner with Contessa and Amedisys to bring this first-of-its-kind model to the region and the first Comprehensive Care at Home program to the state. We look forward to giving our patients an innovative option that delivers on our commitment of community-focused, patient-centered care.”