NPMC preparing for influx of tourists during eclipse

Picture are Richard Cooper, Director of Plant Ops, left, Scott Bailey, CEO, Lisa Wallace, CNO, Casey Willis, COO, Bill Burrough, City Manager, Billy Hrvatin, Police Chief, Ed Davis, Fire Chief, and Tom Broughton, Fire Marshal.

National Park Medical Center is preparing for the influx of visitors to the Hot Springs area during the April 8 eclipse.

To be the utmost prepared, leadership at NPMC is working closely with local business leaders, City of Hot Springs officials, law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs leadership.

“We are hoping that we are overpreparing,” CEO Scott Bailey said. “But for the safety of our residents and visitors, we would much rather be overprepared than be caught off guard. For that reason, we are thinking of every possible scenario.”

Hospital leaders have also spoken with hospitals in Wyoming that experienced the 2017 eclipse with a mass influx of visitors to their area. This has helped them gain insight into what they might be able to expect, and the best practices they can take.

The hospital is working on plans for operational adjustments which include staffing, internal and external communications, supplies and transportation needs.

NPMC is prepared to house staff at the hospital in case traffic congestion clogs roadways, preventing employees from getting to and from work. In addition to assuring all scheduled workers are able to fulfill their shifts, the hospital also has an on-call team to be used in the event of a surge in the emergency department.

The emergency department will also have additional staff scheduled throughout the weekend to prepare for the expected influx of tourists.

For non-emergency medical needs, our friends at HealthStar Physicians of Hot Springs have arranged for two walk-in locations to remain open throughout the weekend and on April 8. FirstCare Walk-In Clinic, located at 120 Adcock Road, and Lakeside Family Medicine, located at 124 Hollywood Ave., will both be open to serve patients. Furthermore, our NPMC HealthCenter at Hot Springs Village will maintain its regular hours on April 8.

In addition to these in-person options, HealthStar is offering virtual appointments via the Sniffle for Patients App. This convenient telehealth service allows patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely. Simply download the app on any smartphone or tablet and search for "First Care" to connect with available providers.

Another concern for community leaders is possible communication disruption during the eclipse event. NPMC is prepared in the event of phone line interruptions. The hospital has several radios for internal communications, as well as an emergency management agency radio for communication with outside agencies.

To ensure all hospital personnel have regular up-to-date information, a command center will be set up inside the hospital beginning the week before. The hospital will also send out daily communications to all employees from April 1 through April 8.
In preparation for possible delivery disruptions, the hospital will stock extra medical supplies, food, water, linen, paper products, and medical equipment prior to the event.

Survival Flight will be able to staff an extra helicopter at Hot Springs Memorial Field, and NPMC has rented a van and golf carts to ensure transportation needs are met.

All non-emergent surgeries for April 8 have been rescheduled to ensure the hospital can have enough bedspace in the event of an influx of patients.

The hospital also encourages safety while viewing the eclipse. According to experts at NASA, special solar filters are required to protect eyes from the harmful rays. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses are not strong enough to look directly at the sun. Doing so can cause permanent damage or blindness to your eyes. And for those hoping to steal some images of the spectacular sight, be sure to take the right precautions. A special solar filter (in addition to your protective eyewear) is needed to protect your camera and your eyes. Learn more safety tips from NASA.

About National Park Medical Center

National Park Medical Center is a 163-bed full-service acute care hospital located in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Our mission is simple: Making Communities Healthier. We are a part of the LifePoint Health family of hospitals, which means we aim to create a place where people choose to come for healthcare, physicians want to practice, and employees want to work. Our core values are honesty, integrity & trustworthiness, inclusion, compassion and legal/ethical compliance. Our hospital’s Joint Commission accreditation powerfully demonstrates our commitment to meeting the highest national standards for quality and safety.