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Awards and Recognition

Arkansas Children's is honored to have received awards and recognition from several local and national organizations. We believe these are a reflection of both our mission and our vision. Below are some of the honors we have received.

 

Best Children's Hospitals

USNWR 7 Specialties 2025-2026

U.S. News & World Report

ACH ranked in seven specialties in the 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings: Cancer, Cardiology, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pulmonology, and Urology.

 

 

Magnet Recognition

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. 

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

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

CVICU

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.

Named 1 of 100 Hospitals/Health Systems with Great Heart Programs 2024
For the second consecutive year, Becker's Hospital Review has named Arkansas Children's one of 100 great hospitals and health systems with great heart programs. The list showcases health care institutions recognized for their outstanding cardiovascular care, high-level patient outcomes and advanced technologies.

Named 1 of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs 2024
Becker's Hospital Review has named Arkansas Children's as one of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs. The list recognizes institutions for outstanding cancer care via cutting-edge clinical trials and life-changing research.

Named 1 of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Orthopedic Programs 2024
Becker's Hospital Review has named Arkansas Children's one of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Orthopedic Programs. This recognition celebrates our commitment to outstanding orthopedic care through the latest innovations in orthopedic technology, specialty clinics and expert treatments.

 

Best Doctors in America

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

The Arkansas Children's Hospital Heart Institute has been recognized as a Cardiomyopathy Center of Care by the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on pediatric cardiomyopathy. The recognition is based on excellence in diagnosing and treating children with all forms of cardiomyopathy, a chronic and potentially life-threatening heart disease that affects how the heart pumps blood through the body.

Society for Pediatric Sedation Center for Excellence logoThe ACH Pediatric Sedation Unit was recently designated a Center of Excellence in Pediatric Sedation by the Society for Pediatric Sedation (SPS). This designation is currently held by 10 children’s hospitals nationwide for meeting or exceeding the highest quality standards of the SPS. Congratulations to Dr. Abdallah Dalabih, Dana Thomas and the entire Pediatric Sedation Team for this achievement.

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.

Cribs for Kids Gold Certification badge.The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program recently recognized Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) as a Gold Level Safe Sleep Hospital for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a national infant safe sleep organization. ACH is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), providing training programs for health care team members and providing safe sleep education to family and caregivers.

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.

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.

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 Pediatrics has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”

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.

The Tourette Association of America (TAA) has recognized the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Tourette Clinic as a TAA Center of Excellence. The TAA Center of Excellence program distinguishes medical institutions that offer the highest level of care for people with Tourette Syndrome (TS), other tic disorders, and co-occurring conditions.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital Tourette Clinic was recognized for its wide variety of evidence-based treatments for families, its large patient population of impact and its commitment to providing high-quality clinical care. The center’s vision aligns seamlessly with the TAA’s mission to elevate standards of care and foster collaborative partnerships that enhance the lives of individuals with TS and other tic disorders.

 

Other Awards and Honors

 

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.

Forbes named Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) as one of the Best Employers for Women in 2024. This honor reflects our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace with competitive pay and benefits.

Forbes 2025 American's Best Large Employers badge.This acknowledgment highlights the organization's commitment to fostering a positive work environment, offering competitive benefits and promoting a culture of excellence.