HJAR Jan/Feb 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JAN / FEB 2025 21 CHALLENGE2: ResearchComparisons with Flagship Universities Northwest Arkansas has historically been disadvantaged in biomedical research com- pared to peer markets with large academic medical centers. NIH Research funding awarded in 2024 to the University of Arkan- sas Fayetteville ($12.3M) is second lowest among peer flagship universities. Research Comparisons with Health Science Centers in Neighboring States NIH Research funding awarded in 2024 to UAMS ($70.8M) is comparable with neigh- boring health science centers but far below UAB ($334.3M). CHALLENGE 3: Need for an Expanded Healthcare Workforce Northwest Arkansas is experiencing rapid population growth, with Washington and Benton counties surpassing 560,000 resi- dents in 2022 and projections suggesting the population could exceed 1 million by 2050. This demand for healthcare services places considerable pressure on regional providers, including Washington Regional, Mercy, Northwest Health, Highlands Oncol- ogy, UAMS andArkansas Children’s. Persis- tent staffing shortages exacerbate health- care workforce challenges, with more than 1,200 open positions for healthcare prac- titioners—such as physicians, nurses, and technicians—and an additional 1,500 open- ings in healthcare support roles. Particularly acute is the need for nurses, as evidenced by 352 openings for registered nurses and 152 for licensed practical nurses, highlighting the region’s healthcare workforce shortage in the face of rapid population growth. Although some initiatives are under- way to expand the healthcare workforce, much more work is required at all levels, with broader collaboration across multiple institutions. It is evident that a more com- prehensive approach, including significant growth in medical and health science edu- cation, is urgently needed to address current and future demands. Recruiting physicians and other health- care professionals in Northwest Arkansas faces significant challenges, especially in a region without robust health science edu- cation programs and pipelines. Historically, the division in higher education between Little Rock-centric UAMS, with a public medical school and a strong focus on health science education, and UAFayetteville, with limited health science programs, has placed Northwest Arkansas in a lower relative posi- tion compared with peer regions. The UAMS Northwest regional campus has managed to grow in recent years, but the historical deci- sions to concentrate health-related educa- tion in Little Rock continue to hold North- west Arkansas back. Hospitals and clinics have made prog- ress—such as Mercy Hospital in Rogers, which recently added more than 50 physi- cians and 75 nurse practitioners—but critical specialties such as neurology and rheuma- tology remain particularly difficult to staff. This shortage raises concerns about the healthcare system’s capacity to serve a rap- idly growing population. The absence of a local, independent medical school currently limits the development of homegrown tal- ent, making the region heavily reliant on external recruitment, which is costly and competitive. This is why the development of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine is a game changer for the region’s economic development and health status. CHALLENGE 4: Expanding Specialty Care Must Continue Northwest Arkansas continues to expe- rience a growing need for specialty care services. Heart disease is a particular focus because it is the leading cause of death among Arkansans and because cardiology is one of the most in-demand types of spe- cialty care. For example, Arkansas ranks No. 42 in the nation in terms of the number of cardiologists per capita. Compared with states containing peer regions, Arkansas’ location quotient for cardiology (.88) is lower than Wisconsin’s (.91) and Iowa’s (1.83) Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The recently announced strategic collab- oration betweenAWSOM, HeartlandWhole Health Institute, Mercy, and the Cleveland Clinic is a significant step toward address- ing these needs. This partnership is poised to enhance cardiac care by expanding ser- vice lines focusing on advanced diagnos- tics, interventional cardiology, and cardiac surgery. With Cleveland Clinic’s expertise in cardiovascular care, ranked top in the nation, Northwest Arkansas will gain access to leading-edge treatment protocols and technology that will benefit the local com- munity directly. The collaboration emphasizes the devel- opment of residencies, especially in cardi- ology and related subspecialties, to help alleviate the region’s shortage of special- ized medical professionals. By training the next generation of physicians within North- west Arkansas, this initiative helps ensure a steady pipeline of heart care specialists familiar with the community’s unique needs and challenges. CHALLENGE 5: Level 1 Trauma Service As Northwest Arkansas anticipates a population growth of 1 million residents by 2050, establishing a Level I trauma hospital becomes critical. Beyond health benefits to citizens, the presence of a Level I trauma center can stimulate economic development in the region. Such facilities attract top-tier medical professionals, fostering a robust healthcare workforce and contributing to the local economy. A Level I trauma center will draw patients from neighboring areas and states, generating revenue and support- ing local businesses. Furthermore, having a state-of-the-art trauma facility positions Northwest Arkansas as a healthcare hub, which can attract research and innovation initiatives, leading to further investment in healthcare technology and education.