BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (April 3, 2026) – Building upon 73 years of health services within Mississippi County, Mississippi County Hospital System (MCHS) announced its selection of Lacey Carter as the healthcare system’s new CEO, effectively immediately.
Carter joins MCHS from Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains, Mo., where her career advanced through several executive leadership roles, including Chief Operations Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director of Nursing. She also previously served as Director of Women’s Services and Director of Education. During her tenure, Carter led multiple nursing units and played an instrumental role in opening a Women’s Center for the health system in November 2020.
She steps into the CEO position after the MCHS Board of Directors unanimously voted in December for the hospital system to partner with St. Bernards Healthcare for management assistance. Through this agreement, St. Bernards manages day-to-day operations at both Great River Medical Center in Blytheville and South Mississippi County (SMC) Regional Medical Center in Osceola. Carter, the first management appointee since the transition, succeeds Josh Conlee, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services for St. Bernards, who has served as interim CEO since January.
MCHS Board President John Logan said that Carter’s presence strengthens rural healthcare delivery and access in Mississippi County.
“Working together, we now have an opportunity to enhance locally based healthcare,” Logan said. “With Mrs. Carter’s expertise leading our hospitals, we look forward to expanding our care reach throughout the county.”
Through the relationship, patients at MCHS will have direct access to St. Bernards Healthcare’s network of specialists and subspecialists. Specifically, Carter’s extensive clinical and leadership background in women’s health closely aligns with the comprehensive women’s services offered at MCHS’s largest facility, Great River Medical Center, the only birthing hospital within a 40-mile radius.
“I’m honored to join this system’s dedicated teams and work alongside them to serve Mississippi County, our family’s new home,” Carter said. “My roots run deep in rural healthcare, and it’s my mission that local communities have access to high quality care close to its members live and work. Together, we’ll build upon the legacy of service at both Great River and SMC.”
Carter earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Missouri State University and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Leadership and Healthcare Systems from the University of Colorado. She also graduated from Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) with an Associate of Arts in General Studies and an Associate of Science in Nursing in 2010.
Last year, MSU-WP recognized Carter with its Distinguished Young Alumni Award. The honor is presented annually to a former student 40 years of age or younger who has shown great promise in their personal life and professional field and was actively involved while a student at the university.
Originally from Willow Springs, Mo., Carter, her husband, and their four children enjoy spending time together outdoors as a family.
- Notes:
St. Bernards Healthcare has a successful, 45-year history of management agreements and partnerships with regional rural hospitals, supporting healthcare providers, clinicians and staff with tools and resources to provide high quality, locally based healthcare. - Mississippi County Hospital System (MCHS) partners with St. Bernards to provide Mississippi County and surrounding areas with comprehensive and connected healthcare services. MCHS’s largest facility, Great River Medical Center in Blytheville, provides the county with a full-service hospital, holding Joint Commission accreditation and offering emergency care, imaging, inpatient and outpatient care, surgical services and comprehensive women’s services.
- In addition to its management agreements, St. Bernards serves as the corporate parent of a number of healthcare entities, including three hospitals. Its largest facility, St. Bernards Medical Center, stands as a regional referral hub, offering a 457-bed acute care hospital complete with the region’s most capable Level III Trauma Center and comprehensive Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
- For more information about St. Bernards and Mississippi County Hospital System, please visit stbernards.info and mchsys.org, respectively.
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