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Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ

What to Expect During Your Hospital Procedure

Your experience in our facility may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health.

You may never see another patient while you are at the hospital as we try to minimize overlap to promote social/physical distancing.

You are going to be asked screening questions multiple times by multiple people, up until you are admitted for your procedure. The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have…

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your procedure must be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be required to:

  • Undergo testing for COVID-19 prior to your procedure. Your provider will place the order for the test and provide instruction for where to go to receive your test. If your test happens to be positive, your procedure will be postponed, and you will be given instructions related to your care.

Though not a requirement, you also will be strongly encouraged to:

  • Practice “safer at home” behaviors for seven (7) days to minimize potential exposure prior to your procedure. This means going a step further from social distancing – trying only to leave your home for critical needs such as groceries or going to the pharmacy. If you need to leave for an essential purpose, or for work, it is strongly recommended that you wear a mask in public settings, and where practicing social/physical distancing is difficult to achieve, you should be even more diligent about proper hand hygiene.
  • Monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19; and
  • Check your temperature and record it twice a day during this seven-day period. You should report any temperature above 100°F to your provider.

If you are having an imaging study or interventional radiology procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

If you have a family member or caregiver with you, he/she will/will not be permitted to enter the hospital, in accordance with our current visitation guidelines:

  • At National Park Medical Center, our top priority is safeguarding the health and well-being of our patients, providers, employees and community. We continue to closely monitor the prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community and follow state and federal guidance as we adapt our operations to safely care for and support our patients.
    • For the protection of our patients and our community, the intensive care unit (rooms in 2300s) and Med 2 unit (rooms in 2100s) are temporarily closed to visitors. Exceptions will be made for end-of-life patients and at the discretion of administration. Please call (501) 620-1400 to request an exception or to discuss alternate methods of communication such as Zoom meeting or FaceTime.
    • Visiting hours for non-ICU inpatient units will be 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  Visitor should enter through the Emergency Department entrance during those times.
    • Patients in non-ICU units will be limited to one WELL visitor per day during the specificied times.
    • At this time, visitors and support persons for Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery patients will be asked to wait in their vehicles, unless they are needed for patient assistance.
    • Exceptions to the policy will include Labor & Delivery, pediatric and end-of-life patients.
    • All visitors must be 16 years of age or older, will be screened upon entry and will be required to wear a mask and armband/sticker at all times while in the facility.
    • Visitors must provide and wear their own face covering or mask to enter the facility.
    • Visitors who do not pass the screening at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit until they are symptom-free.
    • Visitors are NOT allowed for high-risk, isolation, immunocompromised or respiratory patients who are under observation or test positive for COVID-19.
    •  We continue to screen everyone who enters our facilities for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, per CDC guidelines.
    • Please utilize alternative methods of communication, including technology, with patients as much as possible.