Arkansas Children’s Northwest names chief nursing officer

Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale announced Tuesday (June 13) the hiring of Michael Howard as its chief nursing officer. In this role Howard will be responsible for planning, organizing and directing the overall operations of the nursing and patient care services at the hospital. Howard will report to chief administrator Trisha Montague.

Howard hails from Children’s Hospital in San Antonio where he spent the past nine years serving as director of pediatric emergency services as well as urgent care overseeing a staff of 120.

“Michael is an exceptional nurse leader who understands the complexity of healthcare delivery systems,” Montague said. “His ability to lead large-scale change has been proven throughout his career, and he does so with compassion and an unwavering dedication to excellent patient care.”

Howard holds a bachelor’s of nursing degree from Waynesburg (Penn.) University, as well as a master’s degrees in management, health administration and nursing from the University of Phoenix.

“As the chief nursing officer, I look forward to forming a multidisciplinary team that will provide excellent care to the children of Northwest Arkansas and beyond,” Howard said. “We will strive to provide family-centered care, and become an integral part of the community and families that we will serve.”

Arkansas Children’s Northwest is slated to open in January 2018 offering a full range of specialty, pediatric care including emergency. The hospital will have 24 in-patient beds to facilitate overnight stays and five operating room. There will also be a large outpatient clinic which is moving from its Lowell location.