UAMS Prenatal Program Gets Harvard Award for Innovation

By todd

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LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) prenatal program has received a second national award for its innovation in helping reduce the number of babies born with severe medical problems.


Known as ANGELS, the program is among the Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006 as determined by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in cooperation with the Council for Excellence in Government.


Established in 2003, ANGELS is a cooperative program between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the state Department of Health and Human Services, the Arkansas Medical Society and Arkansas doctors to improve prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies throughout the state. It also was recognized in 2004 for its innovation by the Council of State Governments.


ANGELS, which stands for the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System, is directed by Curtis Lowery, M.D., who also is director of the UAMS division of maternal-fetal medicine.


The program provides a 24-hour hotline, a referral system for patients and case management that includes maternal-fetal medicine consultations, detailed fetal ultrasounds and genetic counseling that can be performed at UAMS or at remote sites through telemedicine. It is the only program in the nation that uses university physicians working directly with a state Medicaid program to reduce the number of babies born with severe medical problems.


Others in the Top 50 include federal, state and local efforts, including school districts and one tribal government.


UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, five centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,320 students and 690 residents and is one of the state’s largest public employers with almost 9,000 employees. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $4.3 billion a year. UAMS centers of excellence are the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy and Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute.