Arkansas Children’s earns highest recognition by American College of Surgeons

Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock received the highest level 1 designation by the American College of Surgeon (ACS) for its surgical center. ACH is one of only 17 hospitals in the U.S. to earn the elite distinction and it is the only hospital in Arkansas to do so.

The level 1 designation, valid for three years, recognizes surgery centers whose quality improvement programs have enhanced the quality of children’s surgeries, prevented complications, reduced costs and, most importantly, saved lives, according to a news release.

The distinction shows the hospital has a comprehensive staff of medical and surgical specialists ready to care for children around the clock. It also demonstrates the hospital’s efforts to give parents and families ongoing education, as well as the hospital’s participation in a national data registry that produces semiannual reports.

ACH said the program was developed to improve the quality of children’s surgical care by ensuring every child’s individual needs can be met by resources available at verified centers. The hospital submitted an application and underwent an extensive site visit by the ACS team that reviewed the center’s operations and data on clinical outcomes.

“This verification means families are turning to the highest quality surgical program when they entrust Arkansas Children’s Hospital to care for their children,” said Dr. Greg Sharp, chief medical officer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. “Verification is a rigorous process and ensures our surgical program meets uncompromising standards.”

ACH said verified centers must meet criteria outlined in the standards document, Optimal Resources for Children’s Surgical Care 2015. CSV standards ensure children facing surgery receive care under a multidisciplinary program with quality improvement and safety processes, data collection, and appropriate resources provided to them as patients at the hospital.

The CSV program is based on other nationally recognized American College of Surgeons quality improvement programs that have measurably improved surgical quality and have prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives.