Parents of children receiving care at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock will soon be able to stay even closer to their hospitalized children through a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana.
“Beginning construction on this new Ronald McDonald House marks a powerful step forward in our mission to serve even more families,” said Janell Mason, CEO of Ronald McDonald House. “This new House will offer comfort, care and a sense of home to families facing unimaginable challenges. We’re deeply thankful to our supporters to date for helping make this vision a reality.”
A more than 6,000-square-foot space on the mezzanine level of the hospital will be renovated and operated by Ronald McDonald House. As the second Ronald McDonald House in central Arkansas, it will provide six overnight suites and a large common area for day use by families of pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit patients at the hospital.
The House will also offer a kitchen, a fully stocked pantry, a coffee and snack bar, a dining room, a playroom for siblings, laundry rooms, a TV lounge, a remote work space, showers for caregivers not staying overnight, and other comforts of home that will allow parents to be in the best position to make vital decisions for their children.
Studies show that family involvement in patient care for children reduces parental stress, anxiety and depression; improves maternal-infant bonding and breastfeeding; and eases the transition to care at home after discharge from the hospital.
Services will be free to caregivers thanks to the support of donors and volunteers.
“Baptist Health is one of the state’s largest providers of women’s services, delivering more babies than anyone else,” said Brent Beaulieu, chief financial officer at Baptist Health and a board member at Ronald McDonald House. “A key part of that is caring for high-risk mothers and babies that require neonatal intensive care support.”
He added that while the existing Ronald McDonald House near Arkansas Children’s Hospital has supported families of children at Baptist who need accommodations, having a space within the hospital that allows families to remain close to their babies is even better.
“Over time, we found a great space in the hospital that will be able to not only serve families that are traveling from a distance but also families from the local area that may not stay overnight,” he said. “We are excited to expand our partnership with Ronald McDonald House to better serve our families in a way we could not have done on our own.”
A construction announcement took place Sept. 12 on the mezzanine. Construction will begin soon, and the new program is expected to begin serving families by spring.
Only $345,000 remains to fully fund the $3.5 million project, which includes three years of operating support. To donate or find other ways to support, contact Mason at janell@rmhcar-nla.org or 501-593-0913.
Photo Credit: Baptist Health
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