Mercy Hospital Paris Quick Facts

• Mercy Hospital Paris was named a Top 100 Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health in 2023 and is among the top 25% of rural hospitals in America for the 2024 Performance Leadership Award.
• The hospital was also recognized with a Pearl Award for defect-free care and a Ruby Award for its fast door-to-CT times in the 2025 Mercy Arkansas Hospitals awards.

In the heart of Paris, Arkansas, the original hospital, operated by the Smith family for generations, stood as a beacon of care until its closure in 1971. Financial pressures and rising equipment costs made it impossible to continue, leaving the community without local hospital services. Residents were forced to travel long distances for emergency and essential care, a hardship that underscored the urgent need for accessible healthcare.

Recognizing this gap, Mercy stepped in with a vision rooted in its long-standing mission of compassionate service. Partnering with Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, the organization helped establish Mercy Hospital Paris as a critical access hospital, ensuring that the people of Paris could receive high-quality care close to home.

Today, Mercy Hospital Paris is celebrated as one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the country, recognized for excellence in quality, outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Its story is one of transformation from a shuttered facility to a nationally honored institution. The hospital’s success is a testament to Mercy’s commitment to rural health and the unwavering support of the Paris community.

As Juli Stec, Mercy’s vice president of patient services, shared: “Having basic emergency and hospital services in town is essential to a smaller community like Paris. But it’s the caregivers at our hospital who help Paris rank among the nation’s best. They’re dedicated to providing the best possible care and do so with compassion every day.”

• Swing Bed Program: Sometimes patients need additional care and recovery time before leaving the hospital and returning home. Mercy's swing bed program meets the needs of anyone recovering from surgery or illness who could benefit from extra attention. Our program offers a variety of medical services, such as various therapies, IV treatments and wound care to help people on their road to recovery.