The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is partnering with Dallas-based Intuitive Health to build a network of hybrid facilities across Arkansas combining emergency rooms and urgent care clinics under one roof.
Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes announced the partnership in a news release, stating that the model lets patients walk in for issues ranging from common colds to chest pain without guessing which facility fits their symptoms. The 24-hour sites will feature on-site laboratories and diagnostic imaging.
- Unified Triage: Patients walk into a single location where medical staff evaluate symptoms and route them to either urgent care or emergency care, simplifying patient navigation.
- Billing Integration: UAMS oversees the billing process, ensuring patients are billed for the specific tier of medical service they actually require.
- Diagnostic Access: Facilities maintain round-the-clock operating hours alongside on-site laboratory testing and imaging capabilities.
The first hybrid facility is planned for 16800 Chenal Parkway, with construction anticipated to begin following permit filings submitted by UAMS and national construction firm the Boldt Company. The facility is expected to open in late 2027, according to Harrison Reed, UAMS Health’s chief administrative officer.
Four additional locations are under consideration across the region. Reed noted that future expansion depends heavily on community demand and how the initial Little Rock location performs.
The network will accept Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans that hold active contracts with UAMS. Other health plans will be processed as out-of-network providers, according to Reed.
Intuitive Health, founded in 2008, operates as a for-profit joint-venture partner with over 20 health systems nationwide, serving more than 500,000 patients annually. The company is majority-owned by the private equity firm Great Hill Partners, as reported in a company news release.
Addressing potential concerns regarding private equity ownership in emergency medicine, Reed emphasized that UAMS retains complete clinical authority. This oversight covers medical providers, staffing benchmarks, patient safety protocols, and billing structures.
“We take those studies seriously, but there’s an important distinction between private equity acquiring a hospital and UAMS contracting with a private equity-backed management company,” Harrison Reed said.
Intuitive Health CEO Thom Herrmann stated in the news release that the partnership aims to make immediate care more accessible while reducing patient confusion regarding treatment costs.
| Operational Metric | UAMS-Intuitive Health Initiative |
|---|---|
| Operating Hours | 24 Hours / 7 Days a Week |
| First Location | 16800 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock |
| Target Opening | Late 2027 |
| Clinical Authority | Retained entirely by UAMS Health |
Construction on the initial Chenal Parkway location is projected to take between 12 and 18 months following municipal permit approval. MedicaidMonitor.org reported that state health plans and regional providers must monitor how the integrated model shifts patient referral patterns and emergency department utilization across Arkansas.
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. News Release: UAMS to launch hybrid ER, urgent care facilities with Dallas-based Intuitive Health. November 2026.
- Medicaid Monitor. UAMS to Launch Combined ER-Urgent Care Facility Network. November 2026.
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Health Beat Lab reporting on regional healthcare access. November 2026.
