HJAR Nov/Dec 2019

54 NOV / DEC 2019  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds Arkansas Children’s Northwest to Expand Care Arkansas Children’s is asking the community to GO GOLD in support of pediatric cancer aware- ness and treatment. The Will Golf 4 Kids tourna- ment and Color of Hope Gala committees have committed to raising $5 million to expand services for children with cancer and blood disorders at Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW). Over the next five years, funds raised will sup- port the addition of a pediatric oncologist, nurses, and support services staff for the ACNW hema- tology/oncology program, creating as many as six new positions. The investment will also expand ACNW’s cen- tral monitoring systems to the inpatient unit to serve children with cancer and blood disorders and enhance care for higher acuity patients. Addi- tionally, ACNW’s pharmacology services will also grow through the investment, allowing the hos- pital to prepare more complex treatments and keep children close to home for their cancer care. “Arkansas Children’s Northwest was built with the generosity from the community and designed to grow and expand to provide what children in Northwest Arkansas need,” said Fred Scar- borough, CFRE, chief development officer for Arkansas Children’s and president of the Arkan- sas Children’s Foundation. “As the population in Northwest Arkansas increases, Arkansas Children’s Northwest, with the support and investment from the region, will be able to deliver more care close to home.” While tremendous advancements have been made in addressing childhood cancer, with death rates for this age group declining 65 percent from 1970 to 2016, cancer continues to be the lead- ing cause of death from disease among children. GOLD is the color worn in solidarity by those committed to spotlighting the need for increased awareness and advances in treatment to eradicate one of the leading causes of death by disease in our children. Baptist Health-Little Rock First Hospital in U.S. To Adopt EleGARD Patient Positioning System for CPR Baptist Health has adopted the EleGARD Patient Positioning System. The device, from AdvancedCPR Solutions, precisely, rapidly, and consistently positions the patient for CPR and air- way management and raises the patient into a multi-level elevation to support the use of an inno- vative new technique for resuscitation. Baptist Health-Little Rock will be the first hospi- tal in the U.S. to adopt the EleGARD Patient Posi- tioning System. “We want to save lives with CPR, and when the life is saved, we want to provide the best oppor- tunity for an optimal neurological outcome,” said Dr. Wendell Pahls, director of emergency services at Baptist Health-Little Rock. “The systems-based approach using multiple technologies dramati- cally improves the outcomes we can deliver to our patients.” Baptist Health expects to deploy four devices first at the hospital before expanding the tech- nology across its healthcare system. The Elevated CPR method is a technologi- cally-advanced technique for performing device- assisted head up CPR that incorporates lifting the head, heart, and thorax in a multi-level elevation, in a timed sequence, in conjunction with best practice resuscitation protocols. Mercy Grants $500,000 for Those in Need in Seven States Mercy is providing $500,000 in grants to nearly 30 organizations in seven states that serve chil- dren, elderly, homeless, and uninsured people. Since 1987, Mercy has awarded funds, now total- ing more than $15 million that provide medical care, counseling, housing, meals, and more. This year’s grants will benefit more than 48,000 people. Of the 29 grants, 19 are Mercy Caritas (Latin for charity) grants that support community-based programs consistent with Mercy’s mission and vision, as well as align with an identified commu- nity health need. The remaining 10 grants were awarded to Sisters of Mercy working in direct ser- vice to people in poverty. “Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, had a zeal to serve those in need and Mercy’s health ministry continues those efforts today,” said Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, Mercy’s health ministry liaison and board member. “By giv- ing back to our communities, we honor our mis- sion of Mercy.” Mercy Caritas was established to provide funds to health and human services programs that meet unique community needs. Here is the list of recipient organizations in Arkansas: • Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County (Rogers) –Western Benton County Mental Health Services provides quality, holistic counseling services, free of charge, to children and their families by treating the whole person to alleviate trauma symptoms and promote healing. The center is expand- ing services to include a location in western Benton County. ($23,000) • Samaritan House Community Center (Rogers) – Samaritan Dental Clinic is oper- ated by the center, a nonprofit organiza- tion that serves the hurting and hungry of Northwest Arkansas. The clinic’s purpose is to provide free, comprehensive oral health- care to adults who are uninsured and unable to afford quality dental care. ($35,000) • Loaves and Fishes Food Bank of the Ozarks (Berryville) – Operation Food for Hungry Kids is a weekend, food pack pro- gram providing about 3,500 calories of nutri- tious meals and snacks for hungry children in Berryville and Green Forest. Its purpose is to supplement free and reduced-cost lunch programs with consistent weekend nutrition for children living in poverty. ($15,000) UAMS Medical Center Ranked No. 1 in State by U.S. News &World Report The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as having the best hospital in the state, and its ear, nose, and throat (ENT) depart- ment was ranked among the top 50 nationwide. “The world now knows what we know — won- derful things are happening here at UAMS thanks to the dedicated work of our health care professionals and support staff, their innovative approach to care, and their commitment to elevat- ing the health of all Arkansans,” said UAMS Chan- cellor Cam Patterson, MD, MBA. “I congratulate each and every member of Team UAMS for this accomplishment.” The UAMS ENT department was ranked 42nd in the nation on the 2019-20 list, which was released