SPRINGDALE -- Arkansas Children's Hospital plans to build a hospital in Springdale on land donated by Gary and Robin George, a hospital spokesman said during a recent interview.
Hospital officials plan to announce the project Aug. 7 during the Color of Hope Charity Gala at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Ashley Leopoulos, a hospital spokesman, said recently. Officials declined to give more details Friday.
To read more about Gary and Robin George’s personal connection to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, look for a story Sunday in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Profiles section.
"I don't have details on that," said Jennifer Pyron, director of communications and planning for the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, when asked about the land donation and Northwest Arkansas hospital plans on Friday. "We are going to hopefully be in a position to share something next week."
Northwest Arkansas hospital administrators have been meeting with Arkansas Children's Hospital leaders.
Martine Pollard, executive director of communications and community integration for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, said conversations have taken place over the past several months and included what Arkansas Children's Hospital's presence in Northwest Arkansas might look like.
"We've also had conversations with representatives from Children's Hospital on how we could collaborate and how we could work together to better serve the community," said Pat Driscoll, Northwest Health System director of marketing and business development.
Robin and Gary George are serving as the 2015 Color of Hope chairmen. The fundraiser is in its 22nd year and is sold out at 1,600 tickets. Robin George also serves on the foundation board.
The Georges have a personal connection to the hospital. They've had a son and grandchild treated at the Little Rock hospital.
"The Georges are grateful parents and grandparents of Arkansas Children's Hospital," Pyron said.
Dr. Jay Deshpande, Arkansas Children's Hospital chief medical officer, said the hospital already has a significant presence in Northwest Arkansas when asked about a new facility in June.
"The Lowell Clinic offers several specialties which develop on-site care on a part-time basis as well as a full-time primary care clinic," he wrote in an email. "That clinic has seen significant year-over-year growth despite having limited ancillary testing or procedural capability."
The Little Rock-based children's hospital opened the Lowell clinic in 2007.
The Lowell clinic is a collaborative effort between Arkansas Children's Hospital and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Pediatrics. It offers primary care and pediatric subspecialties such as cardiology, pulmonology and neurology.
Dan McFadden, hospital spokesman, said during an interview last spring the Lowell clinic had 4,000 patient visits the first year, jumping to 25,000 in 2013.
Deshpande said the hospital's strategy is to expand its reach to the four corners of the state.
"Once a plan is ready, we will share how we plan to do so," he said in June.
Christie Swanson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAChristie.
NW News on 08/01/2015