St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center

St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center https://www.facebook.com/fiveriversmc/

This page was created by an SBFR Employee and by no means should any of the comments be considered that of the Hospital Administration or Board of Governors.

Next Week's MenuALL Fried Foods may come in contact with FISH
04/10/2026

Next Week's Menu

ALL Fried Foods may come in contact with FISH

04/05/2026
Compassion in Action: A Legacy of Care with Melissa ThroeschFor nearly three decades, Melissa Throesch has been a steady...
04/02/2026

Compassion in Action: A Legacy of Care with Melissa Throesch

For nearly three decades, Melissa Throesch has been a steady, compassionate presence in Cardiopulmonary Services. As Cardiopulmonary Director, her leadership is grounded not only in clinical expertise, but in a deeply personal calling to care for others.

Melissa’s inspiration for healthcare began early in life. Raised in part by her grandmother, who struggled with chronic bronchitis and long-standing respiratory issues, she witnessed firsthand the impact skilled and compassionate care can have. That experience, paired with what she describes as an altruistic nature, shaped her desire to help wherever she could. Healthcare also offered something practical — a career that could travel with her anywhere life might lead. Yet, after beginning her journey here in 1997 at just 22 years old, she found her place and never left.

Throughout her career, Melissa has worked nearly every shift and role imaginable — nights and days, PRN, part-time, and full-time. That breadth of experience gives her a unique understanding of both the clinical and personal challenges healthcare professionals face. It also deepens the empathy she extends to her team and to patients.

On difficult days, Melissa grounds herself in perspective. She imagines herself or a loved one in the patient’s situation and asks how she would want them to be treated. She reminds herself that while medical situations are routine for healthcare workers, they are often overwhelming and unfamiliar for patients and families. That awareness shapes every interaction.

When patients and families leave her care, Melissa hopes they feel genuinely cared for — confident they were treated professionally and knowledgeably, but also with sincere concern. Creating that sense of calm and trust is just as important as delivering clinical excellence.

If there is one thing Melissa wants the community to know, it’s how exceptional her respiratory therapy team truly is. With decades of combined experience — including team members with 20 years, 15-plus years, and others with strong tenure — their dedication runs deep. They are local, invested in the community, and bring diverse skills from experience across multiple facilities. Their commitment reflects stability, expertise, and heart.

This hospital has been one of the longest constants in Melissa’s life — a place she considers family. She loves the organization, her coworkers, and the community they serve. When she reflects on the legacy she hopes to leave, it’s simple: that she cared deeply, gave wholeheartedly, and remained committed to the people and place that have meant so much to her.

That is compassion in action — steady, enduring, and rooted in love for both patients and community.

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2801 Medical Center Drive
Pocahontas, AR
72455

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+18708926000

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Our Story

Our commitment is to our community! Five Rivers Medical Center is a 50 bed acute care hospital that services Randolph County and the surrounding counties in Northeast Arkansas. FRMC is designated a Level 4 Trauma Center. We are affiliated with UAMS AR Saves Stroke Care Program, which allows the ER to be connected with a neurologist quickly via Telemedicine should a patient present with stroke symptoms. We employ approximately 200 local residents and are one of the largest employers in Randolph County. Our wide services offered give our residents the opportunity to seek treatment locally. We provide emergency care, a complete array of radiological diagnostics, IV therapy and an aquatic therapy pool. We have two state of the art sleep labs, which provide a more comfortable environment for our patients. Physical therapy and speech therapy is also provided along with orthopedics, home health, which was recently recognized by Ability Network and Decision Health for being in the top 25% of home health agencies in the country, senior care and many other services.