HJAR Jan/Feb 2021

62 JAN / FEB 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds Arkansas Heart Hospital First in the State to Implant Abbott’s NewHeart RhythmDevice The cardiology team at Arkansas Heart Hospi- tal announced that they have successfully per- formed their first implant using Abbott’s Gallant implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This advancement features compatibility with mag- netic resonance imaging (MRI) and Bluetooth communication for a more personalized connec- tion between patients and their doctors. “The ability for patients to have enhanced con- nectivity to their doctors via their device implant and a smart phone app is exciting new technol- ogy,” said Scott Beau, MD, electrophysiologist and medical director of Arkansas Heart Hospi- tal. “It has the potential to improve patient out- comes by facilitating a collaborative approach to treatment.” The new Gallant system pairs with Abbott’s secure myMerlinPulse, an intuitive mobile smart- phone application designed to help stream- line communication between doctors and their patients. The app provides access to data, device performance, and transmission history, which helps people take an active role in their health- care. Through the myMerlinPulse app, physicians can continuously monitor their patients remotely allowing for identification of asymptomatic epi- sodes as well as patient-triggered transmissions, which can lead to earlier intervention. It is estimated that as many as 6.1 million peo- ple in the United States battle cardiac arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms. ICDs are often recom- mended to help reduce the risks of life-threaten- ing arrhythmias. For patients with heart failure or in situations when the heart’s chambers beat out of sync, cardiac resynchronization therapy defi- brillators can be used to restore the heart’s natu- ral pattern of beating. Northwest Medical Center- Springdale Earns Level I Geriatric ED Accreditation fromAmerican College of Emergency Physicians Northwest Medical Center - Springdale’s Emer- gency Department (ED) has achieved the gold standard — Level I accreditation from the Amer- ican College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. It is the first in Arkansas to achieve this milestone, as well as 12th in the nation to earn Level I gold status. “Our team does an outstanding job every day caring for people of all ages who are experiencing medical emergencies. After listening to the com- munity, we saw an opportunity to raise the stan- dard of care for geriatric patients to address their specific needs,” said Hans Driessnack, chief exec- utive officer of Northwest Medical Center-Spring- dale. “This unique accreditation is specifically rel- evant for a significant part of the population we serve. I’m so proud of our team’s work, not for just achieving this unique accreditation and being first in Arkansas to do so, but for being truly passion- ate about expanding the level of care available.” In addition to significant employee and physi- cian training in caring for geriatric patients, the process also led the hospital to expand services in the ED, including dementia screenings for all geriatric patients as well as physical therapy con- sults when needed. “Our teammembers – includ- ing emergency physicians as well as staff mem- bers – have developed a more comprehensive approach to caring for older patients, including adding new services as well as focusing on con- cerns that can help reduce future hospital stays and assist with care transitions,” Driessnack said. “We’ve also expanded follow-up processes to ensure that these patients are receiving proper follow-up care.” Arkansas Children’s Names Rick Barr, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical & Academic Officer Arkansas Children’s has named Frederick (Rick) E. Barr, MD, MBA, to the position of executive vice president and chief clinical and academic officer for the state’s only pediatric health system. He joins the Arkansas Children’s leadership team in a new executive role created to elevate phy- sician leadership and bridge operational, clini- cal, and academic pursuits across the system and state. Since October of 2017, Barr has served as chair of the Department of Pediatrics and associate dean for child health in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medi- cine, as well as pediatrician in chief for Arkansas Children’s and interim president of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. Barr will transition to the new role on Nov. 16, 2020. He also will hold the Jonathan R. Bates, MD, Endowed Chair for Improving Child Health through Arkansas Children’s and will remain an adjunct professor in the UAMS College of Medicine. “It’s a pleasure to invite Dr. Barr into this new Arkansas Children’s executive leadership role,” said Marcy Doderer, FACHE, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “Dr. Barr knows only too well that our physician partners are essential to keeping our promise of unprecedented child health, defined and delivered. I have every confi- dence that his experiences at both Arkansas Chil- dren’s and UAMS will serve him well as he pro- vides leadership, guidance, and support to our entire team.” Since 2017, Barr has led the recruitment of mul- tiple new pediatric faculty members, including 10 new division chiefs leading their fields in general pediatrics and pediatric specialties. “I am so excited about this next step in our pur- suit of a healthier tomorrow for the children of Arkansas and beyond. While my background is in clinical and translational research, and most recently indicators of population health, our cur- rent work of advancing patient care, building com- munity and championing excellence is some of the most inspiring of my career,” Barr said. “I can sense the momentum at Arkansas Children’s. The team and I understand that our success will be fueled by digital transformation, effective state- wide partnerships and promotion of a child first agenda. UAMS and Arkansas Children’s have made significant advancements, and I am excited to help lead this new strategic framework.” Barr also co-directed the formation of the child health practice collaborative to oversee and guide activity at and between Arkansas Chil- dren’s and UAMS including physician operations, clinic operations, research, education, and finance subcommittees. “Dr. Barr has provided outstanding leadership during his three years as Chair of the College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and he will be a superb asset to Arkansas Children’s in his new role,” said Christopher T. Westfall, MD, FACS, executive vice chancellor of UAMS and dean of