Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
Please observe these guidelines while you are on our campus:
- As with any public place there remains a chance for exposure to COVID-19 while in our facilities
- We’ll provide a medical grade mask for all visitors to be worn over the nose and mouth at all times
- If you’re not feeling well or have been COVID-19 positive or exposed within the last 10 days,* please refrain from visiting Mercy patients for now
- Visiting some patients may require extra precautions
COVID-19 positive patients on isolation may have two visitors at a time and follow these additional rules
*per CDC guidelines for health care facilities
Visitor Information for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
General Hospital Visiting Hours
Our open visiting policy allows visitors 24/7 access, but please be mindful of our patients who need rest.
Maternity Visiting Hours
The patient's primary support person may visit anytime. During labor, patients may have their significant other and two visitors. The two approved visitors will not be permitted to switch during labor. One approved person will be allowed to stay overnight. Other family members or friends are asked to stay in the family waiting area. All children 12 and under, including siblings, must be accompanied by an adult.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Visiting Hours
Only two visitors will be allowed to see a patient at any given time. ICU staff may further limit visitors at their discretion.
NICU Visiting Hours
The NICU visitation is limited to the two designated individuals identified at birth.
Please review Visitor Guidelines prior to your visit.
Visitors bring emotional support and enhanced recovery to our patients. To provide a restful and safe environment, we ask that all visitors comply with the following guidelines:
- Be considerate of other patients by keeping noise in room, hallway and waiting area to a minimum.
- Patients may receive visitors either in their room or in the patient waiting areas.
- Only two visitors are allowed in the patient’s room at one time.
- Children under 12 must have adult supervision at all times while visiting. Children may be restricted from certain areas in the hospital to protect vulnerable patients from infection.
- Patients with disabilities may have one of three designated support persons present at all times.
- Please refrain from visiting if you have a cold, sore throat or any contagious disease.
- Visitors must comply with hand washing and infection control policies as requested.
- Please do not bring food or beverages to a patient unless approved by the doctor or nurse.
- Patient restrooms are restricted to patient use only. Visitors should use public restrooms throughout the hospital.
- Observe “No Visiting” and precaution signs before entering a room.
- Smoking or vaping is not allowed on our hospital campus.
- Please leave the room during tests or treatments, if asked.
- Visitors are asked to use civil language and respectful conduct with staff and caregivers.
- Feel free to use the lounges and seating areas available on most patient floors and in the main lobby.
- Please leave all personal belonging in your vehicle, no purses or bags in the patient's room.
- No video or photos should be taken in the patient's room.
If a patient is facing an end-of-life prognosis, the patient’s physician may make exceptions so that the emotional needs of the patient and family are met.
Mercy reserves the right to change current policies for the safety of patients, visitors, and staff at any time during a pandemic, public health emergency, or other exceptional circumstances.
Clean Hands In, Clean Hands Out.
With one simple act, you can help Mercy keep our patients safer: Wash or sanitize your hands on the way in and out. Patients in our hospitals and clinics are vulnerable to infections. Cleaning your hands is the best way to help prevent the spread of germs.
Clean in.
Before entering a Mercy hospital, patient room or exam room, wash or sanitize your hands. Hand-sanitizer stations and public restrooms are available throughout our hospitals and clinics.
Clean out.
Always wash or sanitize your hands after touching any surface in a hospital or exam room, before eating and after using the restroom.
Patient safety is in our clean hands.
Mercy has a hand-hygiene monitoring system with voice reminders for our caregivers. When you hear these reminders, join us in cleaning your hands. Together, we can give patients the safest possible care.
Free Hospital WiFi
Free guest WiFi is available. Select WiFi@Mercy on your web-enabled device.
Smoke-Free Hospital
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith has a campus-wide no-smoking policy in accordance with Joint Commission accreditation standards. We’re a vape-free campus as well.
Gun-Free Campus
Visitors and staff are not permitted to carry guns or deadly weapons of any kind on our hospital’s campus. This is a zero tolerance policy, with no exceptions. Our hospital staff, police and on-site security are specially trained to handle active shooter scenarios.
For the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
An interpreter, assistive listening devices, telecommunications devices (TDD) and closed-caption televisions are available at no cost for hearing-impaired patients. Ask your nurse for assistance.
Free Medical Interpreters Available
Language interpreters and translation services are available to patients at no cost when needed for effective communication of medical treatment, obtaining consent for procedures or tests and providing information relating to health care recommendations, education, instructions, medications, diagnoses and prognoses.
Mercy is a faith-based ministry committed to meeting the spiritual needs of our patients. We respect and honor the faiths and religious traditions of all. Chaplains are available to meet and speak with individuals any time of day.
As a ministry of the Catholic Church, Mercy makes the sacraments available to anyone wishing to receive them.
Protestant communion and emergency baptism are available by request.
Fort Smith Hospital
As a 336-bed acute care hospital in Fort Smith, AR, Mercy's Fort Smith hospital has more than a 100-year history of providing care to all who need it. Today, we’re focused on building a better health care experience for you and your family. We do it with a dedicated team of health care professionals, innovative technology and new services. Our tradition of compassionate care and exceptional service remains. If and when you need us, we pray you’ll find Mercy Hospital Fort Smith to be a place of health and healing.
Nationally Recognized Care in Arkansas
Like all Mercy facilities, we care for our patients with expertise and unceasing compassion. It’s a difference you can feel. And it’s the reason Mercy Hospital Fort Smith is continually recognized for exceptional customer service. The facilities at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith include home care, hospice and palliative care services, a sleep disorder center as well as a wound care clinic with hyperbaric medicine, as well as several featured centers.
Outpatient Surgery Center
Mercy's outpatient surgery center in Fort Smith provides diagnostic and outpatient testing as well as various surgery services. Our center uses a four-arm surgical robot to assist in general surgery, gynecologic surgery and urologic surgery.
Women's Center
A women’s center providing neonatology, OB anesthesia, digital mammography equipment and labor/delivery services. The hospital also provides a Level III neonatal intensive care unit.
Cancer Care
Our Fort Smith hospital is dedicated to providing committed and comprehensive cancer care. We offer state-of-the-art programs and services to cancer treatment in Fort Smith including the latest in radiation therapy. Mercy's Fort Smith Breast Center, also located at the hospital, is dedicated to helping women beat breast cancer.
Fort Smith Hospital Accreditations & Recognitions
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith was recognized nationally and awarded an A from The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2021 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Mercy’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. Hospitals that earn an A Hospital Safety Grade deserve to be recognized for their efforts in preventing medical harm and errors.
"Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades recognize hospitals like Mercy that focus on advancing patient safety. This ranking provides an important resource for patients, and a benchmark for hospitals, to determine how care at one hospital compares to others in a region,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.
