COVID-19 Resources

Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our patients and providers.

COVID-19 Information Hotline

Baptist Health has established a free hotline to serve residents across the state of Arkansas. The hotline is for patients and non-patients to call in with concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and aims to help residents better understand conditions from the comfort of their homes and receive direction on the next steps for care.

This hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is staffed by nurses to help residents better understand their conditions and receive direction on next steps for care should they be concerned about exposure to COVID-19. The number is 1-888-BAPTIST.

Hear from the Experts:

Play

7 Tips to Consider When Traveling Amid COVID-19

After a year of putting off vacations and road trips, many of us are eager to get back to traveling – whether it’s here in

How to Explain the COVID-19 Vaccine to Your Child

Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been green-lighted for those ages 12 to 15, many parents are wondering if it’s safe to vaccinate their children—and

COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy

“While it is a personal choice of our patients, we do recommend receiving the vaccine, in most cases, to reduce the risk of becoming very

For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

7 Tips to Consider When Traveling Amid COVID-19

After a year of putting off vacations and road trips, many of us are eager to get back to traveling – whether it’s here in

How to Explain the COVID-19 Vaccine to Your Child

Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been green-lighted for those ages 12 to 15, many parents are wondering if it’s safe to vaccinate their children—and

For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Testing Information

Baptist Health has set up testing sites at various locations throughout Arkansas to evaluate people who are concerned about possible exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Click on the button below for more information.

MyChart

Easily Access Test Results & Take A COVID-19 Self-Assessment

If you think you may have symptoms of COVID-19 or may have been exposed, please use our self-triage tool in MyChart. It will help you determine what to do next. If you do not have a MyChart account, you can create one here. It is the easy and secure way to manage your healthcare and access much of your medical records online.

COVID-19 testing results will also be hosted on MyChart. You should receive your results within 1 to 2 days. Patients will only be called if their results are positive, otherwise, their negative results will be in MyChart. If you have trouble getting access to MyChart, click here for further instructions.

Your COVID-19 Test is Still Pending

Continue home quarantine until the results of your test are communicated to you. You will be given further instructions at that time.

Home quarantine consists of:

1. Staying home except to get medical care. If you do need medical care, please call the ED or physician’s office before you arrive and let them know you have been tested for COVID-19 and results are pending. Either wear a mask or ask the health care provider to give you a mask before contact. If it is a medical emergency and 911 is called, tell them you are in home quarantine due to COVID-19.
2. Not having visitors in your home.
3. Separating yourself from others in your home as much as possible (i.e. separate room, wear a mask when around others and stay 6 feet away).
4. Washing your hands and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Do not share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons and towels.
5. Not using public transportation – airplane, bus, ride-sharing or taxis.
6. Checking your temperature twice a day (once in the morning and once at night) and write it down.
7. Limiting contact with pets and animals.

Visitor Restrictions

In an effort to reduce the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus in our facilities, we continue to have many practices that keep our patients and staff safe, including restricted visitors. However, there are other risks to our patients’ well-being that we recognize, and sometimes the best care for a patient involves having a loved one at the bedside. Baptist Health patient/visitor guidelines for non-respiratory isolation patients are as follows:

Emergency Department

One support person/visitor will be allowed to be with the patient once the patient is roomed. If the patient has any of the below listed health concerns, one support person will be allowed with the patient upon arrival to discharge from the emergency department:

Has cognitive or mental disabilities
Requires assistance with activities of daily living
Is hard of hearing or deaf
Has behavioral health needs that the support person can address more effectively than the staff
Is making a decision to consent to treat or refuse treatment

Behavioral Health

One support person will be allowed to visit from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 7 days per week unless:

The patient request no support person
At the request of a law enforcement agency
They are under a court order for the hospital stay
The support person would cause disruption of care to the patient

Critical Care

One support person will be allowed in the patient’s room from the hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

No overnight visit allowed

Med/Surg

One support person will be allowed on to the campus 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Overnight stays may be allowed for a support person in non-critical care areas

Surgical Areas

Patients undergoing a surgery or procedure are allowed one support person to be present in the waiting area designated by the campus.

Visitors will not be allowed in the Pre-Op/PACU areas

Women's and Children's Areas

Patients admitted in Women’s & Children’s will be allowed a birth partner and one visitor (over 18) to accompany them throughout their delivery.

After childbirth, the birth partner can stay in the hospital until discharge; one additional visitor is welcome during visitor hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Neonatal Intensive Care patients may be accompanied by one or both parents/guardians from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7 days per week including visits to the emergency department.

Pediatric (18 years and younger)

Clergy members or laypersons offering religious or spiritual support are allowed to visit the patient in addition to the support person within the department and hospital visiting hours.

Patients on respiratory isolation are not allowed routine in-person visits unless deemed necessary by the physician or end-of-life care.

Most waiting rooms currently remain closed and social distancing is still required.

The support person is one designated person per day. Exceptions may be made by clinical leadership. They will be allowed to go through screening no more than two times per day.

In accordance with the guidelines, the support person must:

Be screened upon entry or re-entry, including temperature check, and must not have any respiratory or flu-like symptoms (cough, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea, loss of taste, loss of smell, or fatigue). If the support person develops COVID-19 symptoms, they will be required to leave the Baptist Health campus.
Not have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Not be under the age of 18.
Must wear a visitor badge while in the hospital
Wear a mask at all times while in the hospital.
Perform hand hygiene frequently throughout the day and any time they leave or return to the patient’s room.

Meal trays can be ordered from the cafeteria or via meal delivery services (like BiteSquad or UberEats). The support person/visitor can go to the cafeteria to pick up food and return to the patient’s room. The use of an outside delivery service will need to be coordinated with the vendor to bring the food through the front door of the hospital and meet the support person in the lobby next to security screening.

Note: These are subject to change at any time based on Baptist Health directives. For further questions you may have about our support person/visitor guidelines, please visit Visitor FAQs or call Baptist Health Healthline at (888) 227-8478.

Appointments/Access to Care

Baptist Health remains committed to our mission of providing quality patient-centered services and responding to all of your healthcare needs with Christian compassion. For the safety and wellbeing of those we serve during the COVID-19 pandemic, we offer a variety of services to help you learn more about the coronavirus and evaluate your next steps. Baptist Health’s top priority, as always, is protecting the health and safety of our patients and providers.

In-person visits with your primary care provider or for specialty services continue to be a safe option for needed care. Our emergency departments also remain safe and appropriate environments for those who need immediate assistance. Please do not delay appropriate visits to seek treatment due to fear of exposure to COVID-19. Delay of care could result in poorer overall health outcomes and even life-threatening situations.

For a stay-at-home solution, Baptist Health also offers telehealth services from online providers on the Baptist Health Virtual Care app or through MyChart. If you have questions, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST (227-8478).

Baptist Health's medical centers continue to provide assistance for all types of emergencies. Our family and specialty clinics also remain open, offering several options to address health needs.

Accessing Care

Services from a provider are available over video 24/7. Before going to an urgent care facility or emergency department, visit Baptist Health Virtual Care.

Virtual Care

Frequently Asked Questions

General COVID-19 FAQs

What is COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Who is at high risk?

Those currently at a higher risk of significant complications with the coronavirus include:

Older adults
People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease

What are the symptoms?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

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

This list does not include all possible symptoms. If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms, especially after being around a COVID-19 positive patient, you should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

What are some prevention methods?

Physical Contact: Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Keep Hands Clean: Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds or apply an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Avoid Touching Face: Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Avoid Unnecessary Travel: Health officials advise to avoid unnecessary travel due to risk of spreading.

Clean Surfaces: Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

Feeling Sick?: If you’re sick, stay home.

Baptist Health Visitor FAQs

What guidelines must the support person/visitor follow in order to visit a patient?

All support persons/visitors will be screened when entering the building prior to proceeding into the campus. If a support person/visitor has any of the symptoms outlined below or a temperature above 100.4 degrees, they will not be allowed to enter the hospital or building:

After completing the screening the support person/visitor will be given a sticker with the date for use that day. They will be allowed to go through screening twice per day with one screening being the initial screening.

Additionally, support persons/visitors must:

Not have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
Not be under the age of 15
Wear a mask at all times while in the facility
Perform hand hygiene frequently throughout the day and any time they leave or return to the patient’s room

Are certain areas of the hospital closed to visitors?

All hospital common areas and waiting rooms are closed to visitors.

Cafeterias will be open for the support person/caregiver to pick up food and return to the patient’s room. Meal trays can be ordered from the cafeteria or via meal delivery services (like BiteSquad or UberEats). The use of an outside delivery service will need to be coordinated with the vendor to bring the food through the front door of the hospital and meet the support person in the lobby next to security screening.

Community Vaccine Information

Support Baptist Health

With your vital support, we can ensure that our statewide hospitals and healthcare teams are equipped to respond to COVID-19.

Learn how you can help

Baptist Health wants to recognize the system's healthcare heroes who work in the many jobs that contribute to serving the health needs of Arkansas.

#BHeroes

Baptist Health Center for Clinical Research is conducting multiple studies to find a way to combat the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about how you can get involved.

Learn more