Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Overview:

As the only pediatric medical center in the state, Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) serves the youngest Razorbacks from birth to age 21. The not-for-profit hospital has some 370 beds.When it comes to children’s health, there’s not much this hospital doesn’t do. Specialties include childhood cancer, pediatric orthopedics, and neonatology. In addition to its acute care services, it operates many specialty clinics and outpatient centers. ACH is one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the US, and is also engaged in teaching and medical research through its affiliation with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the academic medical center of the University of Arkansas System.

The hospital opened a new $121 million south wing in 2012 that added more than 50 inpatient beds to the hospital’s capacity. The nearly 260,000-square foot, four story building features telemedicine technology (for remote patient care), new trauma rooms, a dedicated orthopedics suite, and a decontamination unit.

ACH’s Circle of Friends clinic treats more than 20,000 patients annually. The clinic, which opened in 2008, provides primary care as well as a broad range of specialty care services related to endocrinology, dermatological conditions, hemophilia, and tuberculosis.

The hospital also offers community outreach services that include help for children of domestic abuse and wellness programs as well as a number of clinics to support those with eating disorders and diabetes.

In 2010 ACH became the state’s only pediatric Level I trauma center after receiving a four-year designation from the Arkansas Department of Health. The designation means that the hospital is equipped for and capable of taking care of children with the most severe of traumas. Level I trauma centers serve as referral locations for hospitals that are unable to provide the same level of care.