Innovative Urology, Nephrology Kidney Center Among the First Nationwide
Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) Urology and Nephrology have partnered to open one of the nation's few formally organized children's hospital kidney centers - the only one within a 700-plus-mile radius. The Pediatric Center for Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders co-directors are Ashay Patel, D.O., pediatric urologist at ACH, chief of urology and associate professor of urology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS); and Richard Blaszak, M.D., pediatric nephrologist at ACH, chief of nephrology and professor of pediatrics at UAMS.
"Other centers have multi-specialty clinics where you have combined urology and nephrology clinics. But to have a dedicated center backed by the hospital that has other resources - ultrasound technician, dietitian, nutritionist, social workers - all there to help with the care of the child as it relates to kidney and urologic health, I don't think that exists in a lot of centers," Patel said.
Centered Approach
ACH approved a business plan this fiscal year to move two clinics, UroNeph and Kidney Stone Clinics, under one umbrella. As part of the eight-year, $318 million expansion for the health system, the Sturgis building renovation at ACH, due to be complete in about three years, will put the clinics in the same proximity on the Little Rock campus so patients can see specialists in one place. The multidisciplinary team within the Pediatric Center for Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders will create medical and surgical plans tailored to age, development and condition.
"It allows us to provide comprehensive care for children when they come in to see two separate services. It's a holistic approach to patients, rather than seeing Dr. A here and conversing separately with Dr. B," Dr. Patel said. "In this center, the mission and the vision would be if there's a urology patient or nephrology patient, one specialist can say to the other, 'Hey, can you see Johnny today? He's here in the clinic, and he has this urological disease. This is what I'm thinking.' It happens right there, all at once. And then there's a conversation with the family together about this urologic disease and how it impacts their nephrology health and vice versa."
The team will also work with Arkansas Children's Research Institute (ACRI) to create a research program with basic scientists, postdoctoral researchers and clinician researchers who will seek out grants and funding from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. The center will also be poised to participate in novel clinical trials.
Continuing the Work
While the clinics within the Pediatric Center for Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders have yet to physically move together, the center’s work for pediatric patients continues.
Currently, two clinics fall under the center:
UroNeph Clinic: The clinic opened in 2018 and treats pediatric patients with urologic and chronic kidney disease. Conditions include posterior urethral valves, bladder dysfunction with renal insufficiency.
Kidney Stone Clinic: Opening in 2023, the clinic addresses the growing rate of kidney stones within the pediatric population.
According to the center’s business plan, in this first year, it will focus on treatment plans surrounding advanced technology, new services and patient and family engagement to continue positive patient outcomes in the following areas:
Kidney stones
Complex kidney/bladder disorders
Kidney transplantation
Neonates with congenital kidney/bladder disorders
Transitional programs for those aging out of ACH’s care
The plan also includes increasing urological surgeries by shifting non-surgical patients to nephrology and an increasing presence at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic and Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale.
"We currently have three half-day clinics as part of the kidney center. The Pediatric Center for Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders allows our two specialties to provide comprehensive care to our mutual patients in one visit in concert together," Dr. Patel said, adding it's a multidisciplinary approach. "We will hire a full-time ultrasound tech who serves both urology and nephrology. There is also a urologist, urology APP, nephrologist, dietician/nutritionist and a dedicated nurse for care coordination."
“To have a dedicated center backed by the hospital that has other resources — ultrasound technician, dietitian, nutritionist, social workers — all there to help with the care of the child as it relates to kidney neurologic health, I don’t think that exists in a lot of centers.” — Ashay Patel, D.O.
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