Winter Weather Likely to Hit Arkansas This Weekend

Arkansas meteorologists are tracking the potential for a high-impact winter storm system to hit the state this weekend (Jan. 23-25). While the forecast is still shaping up, and potential ice/snow amounts and geographical locations are still up in the air, there is a wide consensus that we will be looking at some level of serious winter weather and very cold temperatures.

This means that CHI St. Vincent may enact its inclement weather policy for all hospitals and clinics in the state. The full inclement weather policy can be found here; you should read it now and familiarize yourself with it before winter weather arrives. Some of the highlights of this policy include:

• Staff will be classified as essential or non-essential when the inclement weather policy is in effect. Essential personnel are defined as those involved with direct care of the patient or support patient care areas and must report to work as scheduled. Non-essential personnel are defined as those not involved with direct patient care and will not, as a general rule, report to work.
• A Command Center will be established and manned 24/7 by members of the Administrative Leadership team. This team will assist with staffing as needed, coordinate housing for staffing, assist with meal service and staff communications, among other responsibilities.

At this time, the inclement weather policy is not in effect and is not guaranteed to go into effect. You will receive an X-Matters alert if inclement weather is declared.