Children’s Hospital Makes Difference In NW Corner

“Until no child needs us, we need you.” - Arkansas Children’s SHospital motto ome images never leave us. I saw something last week that will always flash in my mind when I hear the abbreviated and common name of one of our state’s greatest treasures, “Children’s.”

Extended from what seemed like a gigantic diaper were two tiny, slightly curved pink legs, bent at the knees, and ending at feet hardly as large as my thumb. That’s all I could see of the infant on an adult-sized examination table, while the baby underwent an echocardiogram at the ACH/ UAMS Centers for Children location in Lowell. As this little human’s heart function was being electronically screened in Lowell, it was also being scrutinized by a cardiologist in Little Rock at home base, where there are a larger number of specialists than this center can support at this time.

This center is near the Lowell/airport exit off Interstate 540, close to the J.B. Hunt headquarters, at 519 Latham Drive. It is the fi rst regional branch of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (the ACH in the centers’ name) and works in collaboration with the University ofArkansas Medical Sciences Department of Pediatrics, a teaching aft liate with the hospital (and the UAMS that’s part of its name)

Few Northwest Arkansas residents seem aware this amazing facility even exists, in spite of its 21,000 patient visits from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. For 20 years, physicians have traveled to our corner of the state weekly from Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock to treat patients at “clinics,” the term used to identify the specialties that had been off ered (neurology, developmental rehab, endocrine, and cardiology). Until 2007, they worked in a variety of leased facilities, a less-than-ideal situation. Children with other illnesses not treated here before 2007 had to travel to Little Rock for their care.

When the ACH/UAMS Centers for Children opened its new 40,000-square-foot facility, brightly decorated throughout by muralist Maryevelyn Jones, it could house its four specialty clinics under one roof.

Also in the building are the Schmieding Kids First program for infants and young children withspecial health care needs at risk for developmental delays and/or disabilities, and the Schmieding Developmental Center for early detection and treatment of developmental delays or disabilities.

In addition, all children entering foster care in this region are fi rst thoroughly evaluated for health needs through Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s system.

Within six months of opening, six more sub-specialties were added, and now there are 21 “clinics.” Two days a week, doctors fly here from Little Rock, three specialists areon staff full time, and an audiology clinic will be added in January. Also, in December 2010, the General Pediatric Clinic opened to treat children sick with general childhood ailments, give immunizations and follow-up on health maintenance. This clinic is available now to provide health care to a population in Northwest Arkansas that includes 7,000 kids, who, according to Medicaid, were previously not being treated by a primary health provider.

Many of the routine follow-ups and evaluations that once meant missed work and school days, longtrips with sick, unhappy children, and the fi nancial burdens of travel have been greatly reduced for this region by having this center in Lowell. Imagine what this means for five area children currently being treated with chemo for two minutes here vs. a day’s round trip to Little Rock. (Arkansas Children’s Hospital diagnoses between 80-100 new cancer patients each year and is currently following more than 1,000 of them.) Also, 32 cystic fibrosis patients, who must be evaluated 4 times a year, can now have those exams close to home.

Since our regional centerhas been so successful, another one opened in Jonesboro (northeast Arkansas) in September 2012, and as Arkansas Children’s Hospital is able to expand, hopefully a network of centers can be opened across the state. “Children’s” totaled 349,666 Arkansas patient visits last year, including 11,596 visits from residents from other states or countries. No child in need of care is ever turned away.

Donations make Arkansas Children’s Hospital and its centers possible. Fundraising and endowments are crucial to meeting these children’s needs now and in the future.

Currently an anonymous $100,000 match challenge grant for this area’s center is out there waiting to be met.

Call 479-735-0404 or 1-800-880-7491 or direct a donation to the match challenge at: giving.archildrens.org.

Questions? Email duttonkg@ archildrens.org. Or, send donations to: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 4093 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 102, Springdale, AR 72762.

One thing is certain. You will never be sorry you’ve supported children.

FRAN ALEXANDER IS A FAYETTEVILLE RESIDENT WITH A LONGSTANDING INTEREST IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND AN OPINION ON ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE.