Patients & Visitors
Elective Procedures Resume
Click here to read more about the resumption of elective surgeries and other procedures at Northwest Health's five hospitals.
CEO Letters to the Community
The following letters from Denten Park, Market Chief Executive Officer for Northwest Health, provide monthly updates to the communities we serve.
May 20, 2020
April 8, 2020
March 24, 2020
Current Visitor Guidelines
The safety of patients, visitors and our healthcare team members is critical to our delivery of quality medical care. When in the hospital for treatment, the best interest of our patients is to minimize unnecessary exposure to infectious or communicable diseases.
Due to recent increases of COVID-19 in Northwest Arkansas, effective June 17, 2020, NO visitors will be allowed with the following exceptions, and always at the discretion of the physician:
- For patients receiving end-of-life care
- One support person for patients who are in labor
- Patients who have a contracted professional doula to support them in labor will be able to have the doula in the labor room in addition to their one visitor/support person. Doulas are recognized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses as essential personnel and part of the maternity care team.
- One parent for pediatric patient
- Up to two properly banded visitors for each NICU patients
- One visitor for wheelchair-bound patients and those needing special assistance
- One visitor or driver for patients undergoing urgent or emergency procedures
Visitors must:
- Be masked within the facility.
- Remain in the waiting areas and/or patient room as much as is feasible.
- Maintain and be able to present their proof of screening while in the facility.
While the visitor policy has been updated, it is still imperative that everyone practices social distancing and wears a mask as required while in the facility.
All visitors are asked to practice infection prevention.
- Sanitize hands when entering the hospital and when entering or exiting patient rooms.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with elbow or a tissue and dispose of used tissues in the trash.
- Sanitize hands after coughing or sneezing.
People who have traveled to a high-risk area for COVID-19 or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to visit patients. Visitors will be asked a short series of questions upon entrance to each of our five hospitals. Visitors with risk factors for COVID-19 and those who have a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness will not be allowed to visit. During this time, the number of entrances into each hospital will be limited, as follows.
- Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville – Visitors and patients may use the front entrance, medical office building entrance or the emergency department entrance, which is the only entrance open 24/7.
- Northwest Medical Center-Springdale – On weekdays, visitors should use the north or outpatient diagnostic entrances between 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. On weekends, the north entrance will be open between 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. The ground floor entrance to the Jones Clinic Tower is open from 5 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. The emergency department entrance is open 24/7.
- Physicians’ Specialty Hospital – On weekdays, visitors should use the main entrance from 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, the emergency department is the only entry point.
- Siloam Springs Regional Hospital – Visitors should use the main entrance at all times. The emergency department entrance is open 24/7.
- Willow Creek Women’s Hospital – Seven days a week, visitors should use the front entrance between 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the emergency department will be the only entrance.
All visitors are asked to practice infection prevention.
- Sanitize your hands when entering the hospital and when entering or exiting patient rooms.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue; dispose of used tissues in the trash.
- Sanitize your hands after coughing or sneezing.
You may also call a patient’s room so they can hear your voice and you can hear how they are doing. The hospital has free Wi-Fi, so you may visit patients using Facetime or another video communication app.
Designated Hospital Zones
Our hospitals are now divided into three separate zones: Red, Yellow, and Green.
Green Zones are unrestricted areas. Patients in these areas have passed the screening at the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms.
Yellow Zones are limited access areas where suspected COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients could cross paths.
Red Zones are restricted areas meant for any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in the hospital. These areas are isolated away from other patients.
Staff working in the COVID-19 care areas, if there are any so designated, will not cross over to Green Zone Patient Care Areas.
There is signage in place to clearly mark the entry to areas limited to designated staff.
We appreciate your understanding and compliance. With your help, we can maintain a safe environment for all our patients, visitors, and staff.
Facts about coronavirus (COVID-19), how you can protect yourself, what to do if you are sick and more is at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Arkansas Department of Health. The ADH has established a COVID-19 hotline to call if you or a person you know may have symptoms of the virus. The hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-632-4502
At Northwest Health, we understand that coming to the hospital as a patient or as a loved one's support person can be a difficult, often overwhelming experience. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital stay or stopping by to see friends and family, knowing where to go and what to bring will help make your visit less stressful. To make your experience easier, we want to provide you with helpful information you may need to plan your visit, such as what to expect, parking instructions, transportation and more.
Resources
Patient Education