Building upon seven decades of providing health services within Randolph County, St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas announced its selection of Randy Barymon, MS, ANCC, as the new Hospital Administrator on December 1.
Barymon has spent the past 23 years working within the St. Bernards Healthcare system at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, beginning as a radiology transporter. He received his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in 2009, becoming a registered MRI Technologist. He entered nursing in 2012, rapidly advancing to his floor’s nursing director the following year. Barymon then earned both a master’s degree in Management, Strategy, and Leadership as well as national certification for nurse executives from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Barymon joins St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center (FRMC) as the hospital recently marked 41 years at its current location in northwest Pocahontas.
“Pocahontas and surrounding Randolph County have a high regard for the healthcare they receive at St. Bernards Five Rivers,” Barymon said. “As the hospital’s new Administrator, I look to maintain that confidence and build upon growth opportunities.”
Barymon, a native of Mammoth Spring and lifelong Northeast Arkansas resident, expressed his excitement for the region.
“I love it here. It’s home,” he said. “Randolph County has a bright future, and I appreciate St. Bernards’ commitment to it.”
St. Bernards Healthcare President and CEO Chris Barber said Barymon will excel in his new role.
“Randy is an exceptionally gifted individual, and his work ethic speaks for itself,” Barber said. “Because he’s worked in so many capacities—from support staff to direct patient care to administration—he has a unique perspective on what quality health services look like. Most importantly though, Randy is a great person and leader. St. Bernards Five Rivers could not be in better hands.”
Elsewhere, Barymon is a member and past president of the non-profit leadership and management training organization, Jonesboro Jaycees, and he has served as an associate member of the Northeast Arkansas District Fair Board. He and his wife, Deanna, have two children.
FRMC first opened its doors on October 23, 1950 as “Randolph County Memorial Hospital.” For 30 years, the hospital occupied the current location of Randolph County Nursing Home in Pocahontas. The hospital’s current facility opened in 1980 under the name “Randolph County Medical Center”. In 2007, the name changed to “Five Rivers Medical Center,” ultimately becoming “St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center” in 2019 after St. Bernards Healthcare began leasing the facility. Today, through 26 acute care/swing beds and 14 geriatric behavioral health beds, FRMC provides acute inpatient care, intensive care, emergency services, diagnostics and radiology, surgery, IV therapy, and rehabilitation services, among others.
