Ozarks Healthcare Prepares for Solar Eclipse: Ensuring Safety and Accessibility for Community
As the much-anticipated solar eclipse approaches, Ozarks Healthcare is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and accessibility of healthcare services for its community.
To accommodate potential increases in patient volume during this time, Ozarks Healthcare’s Walk-in Clinic in West Plains will extend its hours as follows:
- Friday, April 5: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 6: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, April 7: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Monday, April 8: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In addition, Ozarks Healthcare’s Pharmacy located at 307 N. Kentucky Ave. in West Plains will adjust its operating hours and extend its drive-thru services to meet the needs of patients:
- Friday, April 5: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; drive-thru extended hours to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 6: 8 a.m. to noon; drive-thru extended hours to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, April 7: Drive-thru extended hours noon to 10 p.m.
- Monday, April 8: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; drive-thru extended hours to 10 p.m.
Seeking Medical Care at Walk-in Clinics vs. the Emergency Department:
During the solar eclipse event, it's important for individuals to understand when to visit the Walk-in Clinic versus the Emergency Department (ED). While the Walk-In Clinic is suitable for non-life-threatening conditions such as minor injuries, coughs, colds, and flu-like symptoms, the ED should be sought for emergencies such as severe injuries, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or any other life-threatening conditions.
"We want to ensure that our community has access to necessary healthcare services during the solar eclipse event," Lacey Carter, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Ozarks Healthcare, said. "By extending walk-in clinic and pharmacy hours at our locations in West Plains, we aim to provide convenient and timely care to those who may need it."
Ozarks Healthcare encourages everyone to prioritize safety during the solar eclipse and to seek appropriate medical attention when necessary.
Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
