Best Children's Hospitals

USNWR 7 Especialidades 2024-2025

U.S. News & World Report

ACH ranked in seven specialties in the 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings: Cancer, Cardiology, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology

 

 


Reconocimiento Magnet

Logo for ANCC Magnet recognition.

American Nurses Credentialing Center

This accreditation puts Arkansas Children's among the elite eight percent of hospitals worldwide that have earned Magnet status. It is a reflection of our nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care.

 

 


American College of Radiology Computed Tomography Accredited Facility

The ACR Computed Tomography (CT) Accreditation Program recognizes our radiology department as one of the safest departments, offering the best quality care possible. Learn more about our radiology program.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Accredited FacilityThe ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications (Radiologist and technologist), adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed.
Arkansas Children's is an accredited facility by the American College of Radiology.

The ACR Nuclear Medicine Accreditation Program evaluates the qualifications of radiology personnel, equipment, image quality, and quality control measures. Learn more about our radiology program.

ACR Ultrasound Accreditation BadgeACR Accreditation is a self-assessment and peer review process focused on diagnostic image quality, staff qualifications, policies, protocols, equipment, and therapeutic treatment. It allows facilities to set and surpass industry-accepted quality standards for patient care and includes recommendations for improvement.

Children's Surgery Verification logo.Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) offers surgical services meeting the most rigorous standards for safety and quality, according to a repeat designation awarded by the American College of Surgeons. 

The ACS Children’s Surgery Verification Program verified ACH as a Level 1 Surgery Center – the highest designation a hospital can receive – for providing excellent quality children’s surgical care. 

2019-2020 APEX Recognition AwardThe Respiratory Care Services Department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) received an elite honor from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), which named it a recipient of the 2019-2020 Apex Recognition Award. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the state and one of only two children’s hospitals across the nation to receive this year’s designation. Only 12 awards were given to acute care hospitals nationally. Read more.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Both our CVICU and PICU were awarded the Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence.

UCIC

The Arkansas Children's Heart Institute CVICU holds a Gold-Level Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), distinguishing the unit’s exceptional patient care and healthy work environments.

NICU

Arkansas Children's Hospital's NICU holds a Gold-Level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), distinguishing the unit's exceptional patient care and healthy work environments. We are one of 11 NICUs in the nation to achieve the honor.

PICU

Arkansas Children's PICU holds a Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), which demonstrates the unit's consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care.

Los mejores médicos de América

The following list represents all Best Doctors selected at Arkansas Children's. 

Society for Pediatric Sedation Center for Excellence logoLa Unidad de Sedación Pediátrica de ACH fue designada recientemente como Centro de Excelencia en Sedación Pediátrica por la Sociedad de Sedación Pediátrica (SPS). Actualmente esta designación se mantiene en 10 hospitales de niños en todo el mundo por cumplir y superar las normas más altas de calidad de la SPS. Felicitaciones al Dr. Abdallah Dalabih, Dana Thomas y a todo el equipo de sedación pediátrica por este logro. 
CMTA LogoArkansas Children's and Dr. Veerapandiyan hold the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association Center of Excellence distinction. One of the CMTA's primary missions is improving the quality of life for those with CMT and one way the organization accomplishes this mission is by identifying patient-centric, multi-disciplinary CMT clinics, staffed by some of the highest quality neuromuscular clinicians and researchers in the world. Through these CMTA Centers of Excellence, children, adults and families affected by CMT can be assured of receiving comprehensive care by a team of CMT experts.
CMT Center of Excellence BadgeThe designated COEs demonstrate strengths in providing excellence in clinical care and research and will collaborate with HNF to expand their role as CMT/IN patient community hubs for clinical care, community engagement, research, and training/education.
Aspire to Excellence CARF award logo.The Arkansas Children's Hospital Inpatient Rehab Program earned the highest recognition award by CARF. The accreditation means Arkansas Children's Hospital has met the highest standards in quality improvement, focusing on the unique needs of each patient and monitoring the results of care.
ELSO Platinum Award for Excellence in Life SupportThe Platinum ELSO Award recognizes centers that have achieved qualifying scores on the Excellence in Life Support Application.

Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy

Arkansas Children's Hospital (Little Rock) is now fully accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cellular therapy, immune effector cellular therapy, marrow cellular therapy product collection and peripheral blood cellular therapy product collection. Arkansas Children's Hospital proudly joins a group of children's hospitals across this country whose efforts to provide highest quality of care to children in need for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. Our efforts have been recognized the most respected organization which is gold standard for quality of care.

Arkansas Children's is a Gold Certified Safe Sleep ChampionArkansas Children's was recognized by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital certification program as a Gold Certified Safe Sleep Champion. We are committed to ensuring babies sleep safely - at our facilities and at home.

Healthcare Heroes BadgeArkansas Business has named ACNW as a winner for the Healthcare Heroes for Small hospitals. This honor is given to those making significant contributions to the quality of healthcare in the state.
The Arkansas Children’s Muscular Dystrophy Clinic has been awarded a MDA Care Center Grant for the 3-year grant cycle by the Muscular Dystrophy Association: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2024.

The MDA strives to give all families living with a neuromuscular disease access to state-of-the-art medical care from day one. By partnering with trained, compassionate and proactive specialists, MDA Care Centers emphasize early diagnosis, highly-specialized multidisciplinary care and access to promising clinical trials. MDA's Care Center designation is widely recognized by highly regarded academic medical centers and health care facilities. These health care leaders know that being part of MDA's Care Center Network demonstrates recognition of their institution as a distinguished provider of best-in class care for individuals with complex neuromuscular disorders. An MDA Care Center Grant is made possible by generous contributions from individuals and organizations dedicated to fighting neuromuscular disease and advancing therapy development through clinical research. MDA is continually working to secure additional resources to support the Care Center Network and drive forth improved health outcomes and access to care, research, and therapies for families across the U.S.

Arkansas Children's has a Level 4 accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).Arkansas Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program is the only program in the state with a National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) Level 4 accreditation, providing the most advanced care for children with epilepsy. Our board-certified doctors are trained to evaluate, diagnose and create an individualized plan for your child. Learn more about our neurology program.

NCQA Logo"NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "Recognition shows that Arkansas Children's Primary Care Clinics (Adolescent, General Pediatric Clinic, Circle of Friends, Southwest Clinic) has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time."
NNCC Award for Nephrology Nursing Certification Advocacy logo

This award was developed to be able to publicly recognize organizations that advocate for or promote any and all levels of nephrology nursing certification.

Practice Transition ProgramThe ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) sets the global standard for residency or fellowship programs that transition registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) into new practice settings.
Society for Simulation in Healthcare Accredited Program LogoSSH Accreditation is a peer-reviewed, customized evaluation of your healthcare simulation program. This accreditation examines simulation program's processes and outcomes in assessment, research, teaching/education, and systems integration.
Spina Bifida Association - Clinic Care Partner BadgeThe Spina Bifida Association (SBA) Clinic Care Partner program is an initiative that stems from the existing Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network (SBCCN), a program that works to identify the needs of people with Spina Bifida, connect with health care providers, identify clinics with the best outcomes, and identify research priorities.

Clinics who become SBA Clinic Care Partners implement best practices so that people with Spina Bifida receive the best care possible in order to have fulfilling lives.

 

Other Awards and Honors

 

Arkansas Children's was named a Top Performer by Healthcare Equality Index for LGBTQ Healthcare Equality

In 2022, Arkansas Children's was noted as a top performer on the Healthcare Equality Index for LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. The HEI helps LGBTQ patients, employees, and visitors find LGBTQ-friendly healthcare facilities.

Best Places to Work

Arkansas Children’s has officially achieved the designation of 2022 Best Places to Work in Arkansas sponsored by Arkansas Business.

2024 Best of the Best LogoIn 2024, Arkansas Children's was selected as one of the Best Places to Work in the 2024 Best of the Best Contest by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Learn more about our team and how to join us.

2024 Dave Thomas Adoption Advocate BadgeThe 2024 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list recognizes organizations that strive to make adoption and foster care supported options for every working parent.

Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Women 2024. The list recognizes organizations that are creating more equitable workplaces for women.

Forbes Employers AwardIn 2023, Arkansas Children's Hospital was ranked #1 on the Forbes "Best-in-state Employers" award list.

Forbes Best Employers for Diversity.Arkansas Children's has been named the Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes.

In collaboration with market research company Statista, Forbes surveyed 45,000 employees working for businesses with a minimum of 1,000 employees.

Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Arkansas Children's.