Arkansas Center for Health Improvement

The spring 2025 issue of The Arkansas Family Physician, the official publication of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians, includes an article on our analysis of travel time to delivery facilities for Arkansas mothers. We found that Arkansas mothers' median travel times to birthing facilities range from as little as 2 minutes to as much as 73 minutes, depending on where they live. #MaternalHealth #InfantHealth #BirthingJourney

In the latest ACHI Weekly Roundup: ? A look at the #SNAP program in Arkansas. ? Arkansas has only 33 birthing hospitals across 75 counties. ? Dr. terry Fiddler of Arkansas Mission of Mercy on providing #dentalcare to underserved Arkansans. ? ACHI's Craig Wilson discusses #HealthcareSpending in Northwest Arkansas in an interview with Roby Brock for KUAF 91.3 Public Radio. ? Health-related legislation in the Arkansas General Assembly. ? Forum on chronic disease set for May 7 in North Little Rock.

ACHI's Craig Wilson discusses our Arkansas Healthcare Expenditures Dashboard – and what it reveals about #HealthcareSpending in Northwest Arkansas – in an interview with Roby Brock for KUAF 91.3 Public Radio. For more on this topic, see our blog post: bit.ly/3FqDayS

Patients' access to medical marijuana has dramatically increased despite the lack of Food and Drug Administration approval. Joseph W. Thompson of Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and coauthors assessed the conditions under which individuals were certified for medical marijuana and examined the evidence of physician collaboration in traditional care. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eQ4cNmjq

Neglecting #oralhealth can lead to serious health issues, but many Arkansans face obstacles to regular dental care. In a new #WonksAtWork episode, host Craig Wilson welcomes Dr. terry Fiddler, executive director of Arkansas Mission of Mercy, which organizes volunteers to host free, pop-up dental clinics. Listen to the episode here: bit.ly/3FvKIjP Arkansas Mission of Mercy's next free dental clinic?is April 11-12 at the Conway Expo Center.?More info: arkmissionofmercy.com

Come work with us! ACHI has openings for four positions: senior director, senior data analyst, senior business systems developer, and policy analyst. Get details and apply: bit.ly/4g2NqKg

Several bills considered by the Arkansas Legislature this session involve interstate licensure compacts for various professions. One is SB 119 by Sen. Clint Penzo, which has received House and Senate approval. The bill would have Arkansas join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, allowing physicians licensed in participating states to practice here: bit.ly/3Dw5RKc ? Our explainer provides an overview of how these compacts work and examines considerations for Arkansas. #HealthcareWorkforce

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and some state legislators have proposed prohibiting the purchase of certain unhealthy foods with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Arkansas.?For an overview of the #SNAP program, including a look at evidence regarding the effectiveness of incentives and disincentives to promote healthy eating by participants, see our explainer. #nutrition #FoodSecurity

Congratulations, Duane!

In the latest ACHI Weekly Roundup: ? Study by ACHI and UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researchers offers new insight into state's #MedicalMarijuana program. ? A look at #HealthcareSpending in Northwest Arkansas. ? March is #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth. ? Health-related legislation in the Arkansas General Assembly.