Patients & Visitors
Current Visitor Guidelines
Northwest Health continues to prioritize the safety and health of our patients and staff during these unprecedented times. While COVID-19 remains a concern in our community, we recognize the importance of compassionate care for our patients. Starting Monday Oct. 12th , 2020, we will begin to take steps to allow visitation for families to support and participate in the care of their loved ones. Please recognize that these steps will be gradual as we appreciate both family and staff support to help keep everyone as healthy and safe as possible.
- Visitation 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. daily, patients may have only one visitor per day.
- Visitation in the ICU is limited to one hour, patients may have only one visitor per day.
- Visitation for patients receiving end-of-life care at the discretion of the physician.
- Visitation in OB will be 2 support person(s) for the duration of their stay that can come and go as needed.
- Visitation for NICU will be limited to 2 banded person(s)
- Visitation will be permitted for outpatient procedures and limited to 1 visitor per patient. Visitors will be allowed to wait in specified areas determined by each facility.
- Emergency room patients may be accompanied by one visitor. Visitors will be asked to wait in their vehicle or to social distance in the waiting room until the ER patient has been taken to a room. Laboring mothers fall under OB visitation. If an ER patient is admitted to the hospital, the visitor will be asked to leave and follow the hospital visitor guidelines during patient hospital stay.
- No visitors will be allowed on the behavioral health unit.
- Visitation to rehab will be based on clinical indication as directed by physician.
- No visitors under 18 yrs old, some exceptions may apply.
- Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, as well as those with pending test results, may not have visitors at this time; some exceptions may apply.
- An attempt should be made to have all Visitors remain in the patient room/designated area during the entire visit.
Visitors must:
- Be screened at the designated entrances. Visitors will receive an indicator of screening as documentation of passing the screening questions and temperature less than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors should wear this indicator to display they have passed the screening.
- Be masked within 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 one of the following entrances:
North entrance: 5 a.m. - 8 p.m.
The ground floor entrance to the Jones Clinic Tower: 5 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Outpatient diagnostic entrance: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The emergency department entrance is open 24/7 including weekends.
- 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.
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