Hospital visitation restrictions cause frustration

As the pandemic trudges on, the county’s COVID-19 Task Force reported on Monday many people are experiencing “pandemic fatigue,” including families frustrated with hospital visitation policies only allowing one visitor per patient.

With both National Park Medical Center and CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs implementing the policy to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the task force stressed the purpose is to ensure not only the safety of the patients, health care workers and other employees, but also for the visitors.

“Both CHI St. Vincent and National Park Medical Center reported a continuing ebb and flow of COVID patients, with numbers rising slightly in the past week from lower levels in the previous week,” according to the task force report.

For the week of Sept. 20-27, there were four additional deaths reported in Garland County as a result of COVID-19, bringing the county’s cumulative death total from the pandemic to 52, the report said.

According to a statement made on behalf of CHI St. Vincent on Wednesday, the facility resumed visitation for patients in May, but it currently remains limited to one visitor per patient in accordance with recommendations from the Arkansas Department of Health and an ongoing effort by its healing ministry to ensure the safety and well-being of all patients, visitors and health care staff.

“CHI St. Vincent continues to coordinate with the Arkansas Department of Health and monitor the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and will consider adjustments to the current visitation policy as conditions change,” the statement said. “CHI St. Vincent also recognizes that this remains a difficult time for our patients and continues to consider exceptions to the visitation policy on a case-bycase basis for each family situation.

“Additional special accommodations are being made for visitors during their time at our hospitals to help ensure their ongoing well-being. Visitors to CHI St. Vincent hospitals are required to undergo a temperature screening upon entrance and adhere to existing safety precautions, including universal masking policies.”

According to a statement made on behalf of National Park Medical Center on Wednesday, the health and safety of the community remain its number one priority, and while COVID-19 is still active in the community, it’s important the facility stays “vigilant” with safe

practices to help prevent further spread of the disease.

“In addition to wearing masks and practicing good hand hygiene, another important practice is to limit contact with others who may be sick,” the statement said. “For the safety of our patients, visitors, staff and communities, we continue to follow the guidelines set forth by clinical experts in our visitation restrictions.”

NPMC’s current visitor restrictions are as follows:

• ICU is closed for visitors.

• Non-ICU patients are allowed one well visitor (age 12 or older) per day.

• Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of administration. Call 501-620-1400 to request an exception or to discuss alternate methods of communication such as Zoom meeting or FaceTime.