Baptist Health Opens Obstetric Emergency Departments in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health, Arkansas’ largest private not-for-profit health system, today announced the opening of Obstetric Emergency Departments (OBEDs) at its hospitals in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway.

Each OBED is separate from the main Emergency Departments, and all are located within Labor and Delivery units. Little Rock has five beds on the hospital’s second floor, North Little Rock has two beds on the second floor and Conway has two beds on the first floor. 

If a patient arrives with a life-endangering obstetrical emergency, the OBEDs can provide immediate care for expectant mothers 20+ weeks gestation and their babies. Patients should check in directly at each OBED.

“Baptist Health believes that every woman deserves to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth,” said Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “These Obstetric Emergency Departments will ensure that women have access to the specialized care they need, when they need it. They are an important step in our efforts to improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas.”

The OBEDs are designed to provide women with 24/7 access to specialized care for pregnancy- and postpartum-related emergencies, such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Pre-term labor
• Preeclampsia
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Ruptured membranes
• Urinary tract or bladder infections
• Decreased fetal movement
• Increased blood pressure
• Conditions related to high-risk pregnancy
• Postpartum complications

Each OBED is staffed by a team of OB/GYNs, nurses and other health care professionals who are trained to handle these emergencies. They are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including advanced imaging and monitoring equipment. 

Baptist Health is committed to addressing maternal health disparities in Arkansas. The state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. Baptist Health is working to reduce this rate by providing access to quality health care for all women, regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

In addition to the OBEDs, Baptist Health offers a wide range of women’s health services, including prenatal care, labor and delivery and postpartum care. The health system also has a dedicated team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists who provide care for women with high-risk pregnancies.

For more information about Baptist Health’s Obstetric Emergency Departments, visit Baptist-Health.com or call 1-888-BAPTIST.

About Baptist Health

For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.