Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Conway Regional Health System create nursery alliance

Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Conway Regional Health System will coordinate neonatal care as a result of an agreement that’s the first of its kind for the hospitals.

On Tuesday (Nov. 15), the two healthcare organizations announced the Arkansas Children’s Nursery Alliance to improve the quality of newborn care, according to a news release.

Under the agreement, which is effective Nov. 15, neonatologists at ACH’s neonatal intensive care unit will coordinate care with physicians at Conway Regional’s neonatal ICU and newborn nursery.

ACH neonatologists “will provide immediate consults to physicians at CRHS, educational support, quality of data review, implementation of best practices in collaboration with ACH, and provide training through telemedicine for the purpose of improving neonatal care close to home and provide support as needed to help the babies at CRHS or at ACH get the best care possible,” according to the release.

The alliance also will allow for opportunities to track outcomes and participate in research.

“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,” Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of ACH, said in the release. “Together, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Conway Regional Health System will ensure Arkansas’ newborns get better today and can be healthier tomorrow.”

When asked about the cost of the agreement, Lori Ross Scroggin, spokeswoman and chief development officer for CRHS, said “it’s a minimal cost” related to time and expertise provided, but she couldn’t give the exact cost because of the contract.

“We’re going to be sharing best practices, sharing protocol,” Scroggin said. “Our protocols are going to be aligned with (Arkansas) Children’s (Hospital).”

Arkansas Children’s Hospital operates the only 100-bed level IV NICU in the state, while Conway Regional Health System has a 24-bed level I nursery and an eight-bed level II NICU.

In 2015, the Conway hospital delivered 1,804 babies, according to its website.

“There is no greater joy than the birth of a child, and no greater stress than when your child’s health is compromised,” Matt Troup, president and CEO of CRHS, said in the release. “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.”

The Arkansas Children’s Nursery Alliance is expected to expand to include other hospitals throughout the state. In August 2015, Conway Regional and CHI St. Vincent signed a five-year contractual management agreement in which CRHS would maintain its independence under its own board of directors while being led by four St. Vincent executives: CEO, COO, CFO and chief nursing officer.