Arkansas Children’s, Conway Regional Health System Form NICU Partnership

Matt Troup, president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System; Dr. Alan Lucas, medical director of the Nursery Alliance at CRHS and Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Conway Regional Health System announced Tuesday an affiliation agreement that creates a pediatric nursery alliance between the hospitals.

The Arkansas Children’s Nursery Alliance will coordinate care between neonatologists at ACH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and physicians in Conway Regional’s NICU and newborn nursery to help improve the quality of care.

“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. “Today, we introduce the first nursery alliance in Arkansas that focuses specifically on neonatal care by partnering with local hospitals. It begins right here, right now at Conway Regional.”

Arkansas Children’s Hospital operates the state’s only designated Level IV NICU and has access to pediatric specialists from all disciplines. CRHS manages a 24-bed Level I nursery, including an 8-bed Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Neonatologists at ACH will provide consults, educational support, data review and more to physicians at CRHS.

“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.”

The alliance will offer development of opportunities to track and monitor outcomes and participation in ongoing research. The partnership will also institute formal processes for coordinated care before Angel One Transport when a Level IV NICU is needed and post-discharge follow-up through an expanded High Risk Newborn Clinic network.

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. Dr. Alan Lucas will be the medical director of the nursery alliance at Conway Regional Health System.