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Arkansas Children's Northwest seeks to improve the health of children in the region New children's facility in Northwest Arkansas refl ects 10 years of planning, collaboration Special to NWA Democrat-Gazette Arkansas Children's has a bold vision: to fundamentally transform children's health in Arkansas and beyond by reaching more children and families where they live, work and play. "For more than 100 years, Ar- kansas Children's has taken care of the most critically injured and ill children in the region, says Mar- cy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children's. "It's what we do – and we do it very well. But it's no longer enough. We must work to create an environment where we not only make sick children better today but we make all children healthier tomorrow. The way to do that is to collaborate with other champions for children to deliver care close to home." Each stage of a child's growth and development requires customized equipment, expertise and planning to provide safe, eff ective care. Chil- dren's hospitals recruit people spe- cifi cally trained to meet children's unique needs. Every program, facili- ty and piece of equipment is tailored to provide the right care at the right time. Additionally, children's hospi- tals promote healing with child- and family-friendly environments. Children's hospitals are kid-sav- vy, imaginative spaces where every adult has an unyielding commitment to putting children fi rst. Children's hospitals deliver family-centered care: the sharing of information in ways that are understood and helpful to families. That means including caregivers as part of a child's health- care team. When it opens in just 7 short months, Arkansas Children's North- west in Springdale will be a shining example of that commitment. More- over, it will provide expert pediatric care close to home for the region's 200,000 children. "Requiring families with critically ill and injured children to travel to Central Arkansas or out of state is not an acceptable solution," says Do- derer, President and CEO of Arkan- sas Children's. "Travel puts incredi- ble demands on families, especially repeated, frequent travel. In many cases, it's not only inconvenient, but impossible due to fi nancial barriers. This is why having care close to home is vitally important." When Arkansas Children's North- west opens in early 2018, the 233,613 square-foot hospital will be the region's fi rst and only comprehen- sive pediatric medical center. It will include: • 24 inpatient beds to care for chil- dren requiring overnight stays • The region's only 24-hour pediat- ric Emergency Department • Pediatric surgery unit with 5 operating rooms • An outpatient clinic with 30 exam rooms supporting more than 20 subspecialty areas and a general pediatric clinic • A full range of ancillary and diagnostic services, child-life and pastoral care • Outdoor gardens, nature trails, and interactive features designed for children • A helipad and refueling station supporting Angel One, one of the nation's leading pediatric intensive care transport services with more than 2,000 transports annually. Arkansas Children's Northwest sits on 37 acres of land, a gift valued at $7.5 million donated by Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans and their families. The campus is centrally located on I-49 between Don Tyson Parkway and Highway 412, across from Arvest Ballpark. The project is expected to cost $427.7 million in construction, technology, equipment, and operating expenses over the next fi ve years, and will create 250 new jobs. "Arkansas Children's Northwest refl ects 10 years of planning and collaboration. Once open, we fully expect that the scope of facilities and programs will evolve and ex- pand," says Doderer. "The campus is designed to meet the needs of children. Our plan is rooted in an ev- idence-based approach to pediatric care with quality and fl exibility as key elements of design. As demand for services in the region increases, we will respond and grow according- ly. This children's hospital belongs to the region." Since Arkansas Children's an- nounced its plan to deliver care close to home, the Northwest Arkansas community has embraced the project, pledging more than $60 million in support toward the initial campaign goal of $70 million. "We are humbled and grateful to our friends and investors who have stepped forward with transforma- tional support to improve children's health in Northwest Arkansas," says Doderer. "But we're not fi nished. We are hopeful every business, every or- ganization and every family through- out the region will show their unyielding commitment to deliver- ing care close to home and making Arkansas Children's the choice for children." ADVERTISING FEATURE Arkansas Children's Northwest, located off I-49 in Springdale, is slated for opening in early 2018. Thursday, June 1, 2017 37 NWA Democrat-Gazette Walmart Shareholders