Baptist Health Launches Arkansas’ First ‘OB Hub’ to Add Another Layer of Safety for Moms and Babies

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health has partnered with maternal and fetal care technology company, PeriGen, to launch a centralized "OB Hub" across its seven delivery hospitals, which care for over 6,600 babies annually.

The OB Hub uses PeriGen’s AI-driven PeriWatch Vigilance technology to provide an extra layer of protection for mom and baby much like an air traffic control tower for mom and baby. From this central location, experienced labor and delivery nurses continuously monitor patients alongside bedside staff, tracking: 

• The baby’s heart rate
• The mother’s vital signs
• Contractions
• Labor progression

Baptist Health offers labor and delivery services at its hospitals in Arkadelphia, Conway, El Dorado, Little Rock, Monticello, North Little Rock and Stuttgart.

The AI system constantly reviews patient data and alerts the bedside team if any of the ranges they are monitoring fall outside safety limits. The technology does not replace doctors or nurses. Instead, it acts as a continuous "second set of eyes," ensuring mothers and babies are safely monitored even when bedside nurses may need to step away for supplies, medications or other patients.

Nicki Knowles, director of women’s and children’s at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, emphasized that this additional support is invaluable during busy shifts or obstetric emergencies. The PeriGen system also enables care teams to securely view patient data on mobile devices and automatically alerts hospital leaders to persistent concerns.

Because childbirth can change rapidly, the OB Hub is part of Baptist Health’s ongoing commitment to using technology and teamwork to ensure safe, high-quality maternity care for families across Arkansas and the system’s nursing teams, regardless of the hospital location they choose. For more information on obstetric care, visit Baptist-Health.org.

About Baptist Health

Baptist Health, Arkansas' most comprehensive health care organization, has provided high-quality care rooted in Christian compassion and innovation for over a century. As the state's largest private not-for-profit health system, Baptist Health is here For You. For Life. With more than 300 points of access, our extensive network includes 14 hospitals, over 75 primary and specialty care clinics, urgent care centers, a senior living community, and educational programs, including a college for nursing and allied health studies and a graduate residency program. Supported by approximately 12,000 employees and renowned physicians, we deliver groundbreaking treatments and impactful community outreach programs. Baptist Health is proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work and was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces in 2026. To learn more, visit Baptist-Health.org, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Stay connected with us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

About PeriGen

PeriGen Inc., a Halma company, offers innovative perinatal software solutions that incorporate advanced statistical analysis features to enhance clinical efficiency and standardization of care during childbirth. Led by skilled OB practitioners and IT visionaries, PeriGen has created the PeriWatch® platform to provide consistent analysis and efficient display of complex data to promote better human recognition and communication about impending problems during labor. With PeriWatch, clinicians can spend more time on direct patient care and less time on manual calculations and data manipulation. To learn more, visit www.perigen.com or email info@perigen.com.

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