One of the most exciting times in a parent’s life is the birth of their child, regardless of whether it’s their first baby or their fifth. From the moment a newborn comes into the world, mom and dad want the best of everything for their child and that includes exceptional pediatric health care.
Conway Regional Health System (CRHS) and Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) recently announced an affiliation agreement that creates a pediatric nursery alliance between the two hospitals.
The Arkansas Children’s Nursery Alliance puts into place coordination of care between neonatologists at ACH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and physicians in Conway Regional’s NICU and newborn nursery to help further improve the quality of newborn care. The alliance also reduces the potential need for transport, allowing baby to remain close to mom in a medical center closer to home.
Under the agreement, neonatologists at ACH will provide immediate consults to physicians at CRHS as well as educational support, quality data review, implementation of best practices in collaboration with ACH, and training through telemedicine for the purpose of improving neonatal care closer to home.
“Arkansas Children’s is creating a statewide network of care in order to deliver the right care at the right time close to home for the children of this state,” said Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “Together, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Conway Regional Health System will ensure Arkansas’ newborns get better today and can be healthier tomorrow.”
“There is no greater joy than the birth of a child and no greater stress than when your child’s health is compromised,” said Matt Troup, president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System. “Our hospital employs exemplary physicians, but we also realize the expertise we can provide to the babies and families of Faulkner County by associating ourselves with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and providing that care right here in Conway. Expectant parents across Faulkner County have put their trust in Conway Regional for decades because of the exceptional care we provide and now they can also expect a world-class level of expertise for those times when their newborns might need it.”
Conway Regional is the first hospital to be part of the Arkansas Children’s Nursery Alliance, which is expected to expand and include other hospitals across the state in the coming years. Dr. Alan Lucas will be the medical director of the nursery alliance at Conway Regional Health System. The hospital delivered more than 1,800 babies in 2015.