UAMS is revolutionizing health care in Arkansas through strategic alliances with leading organizations. These partnerships are central to UAMS’ mission of improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans, creating a ripple effect of innovation and impact across the state.
Longstanding Collaborations
UAMS has been a cornerstone for health care in Arkansas, supplying skilled physicians and residents to institutions like Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the John L. McClellan Memorial Veteran’s Hospital. Its faculty have also been trailblazers in groundbreaking research at the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and the VA.
A Transformative Alliance with Baptist Health
In 2017, UAMS and Baptist Health took their collaboration to the next level by forging a groundbreaking accountable care alliance aimed at expanding educational opportunities and improving the efficiency of clinical care delivery. While maintaining their unique identities, both organizations united to tackle Arkansas’ most pressing health care challenges, including obesity, cancer, heart disease, mental health, and premature death.
This partnership has yielded tangible benefits, such as increasing the number of medical residency slots in Arkansas. By addressing the nationwide shortage of physicians, especially in primary care, this initiative is shaping the future of health care for the state.
Breaking New Ground in Cancer and Orthopaedic Care
In August 2021, the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute joined forces with Baptist Health to open Arkansas’ first satellite cancer center, marking the beginning of a series of jointly operated cancer clinics across the state. The UAMS Baptist Health Orthopaedic Clinic in Conway further exemplifies this collaboration by combining the expertise of UAMS’ renowned orthopaedic team with Baptist Health’s statewide presence to deliver comprehensive care to more Arkansans.
Bringing Proton Therapy to Arkansas
In 2023, UAMS and its partners – Baptist Health, Arkansas Children’s, and Proton International – unveiled Arkansas’ first proton therapy center. This cutting-edge facility offers the most advanced cancer treatment available, targeting a wide range of cancers in both children and adults, from brain and spine to breast and pancreatic cancers.
Leading Innovations in Mental, Maternal and Home Health
UAMS’ collaborations extend beyond clinical care. The Arkansas Mental Health Access for Pediatric Primary Care (ARMAPP) program, developed with Arkansas Children’s, equips primary care physicians statewide to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents. ARMAPP also focuses on improving mental health resources in schools and recently hosted its inaugural symposium for educators in 2024.
In maternal health, UAMS joined forces with the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) to revolutionize research. Together, they are developing innovative software and analytical tools to streamline a massive maternal health dataset, making decades of research accessible to future investigators and paving the way for transformative discoveries.
As part of our commitment to providing care convenient to its patients, UAMS provides high-quality home health care through a partnership with Amedisys and Contessa. Our team of nurses, home health aides, physical therpaists, speech therapists are focused on helping patients recover at home from surgery or an illness.
In an effort to help meet the future health care needs of the fast-growing region of Northwest Arkansas, UAMS is also partnering with Washington Regional Hospital to expand graduate medical education.
With these dynamic partnerships and initiatives, UAMS is not only addressing the immediate health care needs of Arkansans but also setting the stage for a healthier and more hopeful future.