Special Notice from Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

January 3, 2022

CAVHS visitation policy returns to ELEVATED Status to combat current surge in COVID-19 cases

With Arkansas experiencing a concerning surge in COVID-19 positives, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System is taking proactive measures to protect Veterans and our front-line staff by returning to our ELEVATED Status visitation policy to help reduce and contain the spread of this outbreak.

This means entry to CAVHS facilities will be limited to Veterans with scheduled appointments, procedures or other essential business that cannot take place by any other means, including virtually. One caregiver over the age of 18 will be allowed to accompany the Veteran, if needed. Caregivers will be directed to a designated waiting area and social distancing will be observed.

Service animals are allowed to accompany Veterans to outpatient appointments and must remain under the care and control of the Veteran/caregiver at all times.

Inpatients will be allowed one visitor over the age of 18 in the facility at a time. One to two visitor(s) over the age of 18 may be allowed into the Palliative Care Unit at a time.

Veterans and visitors to CAVHS facilities must be masked at all times.

CAVHS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics are open in Little Rock and North Little Rock facilities. Research shows that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters offer good protection against the variant, and widespread vaccination can prevent unnecessary deaths and hospitalizations.  We encourage all unvaccinated Veterans and their family member to get the vaccine either at a community vaccination clinic or the VA.

Solar panels being relocated as part of VA hospital project

Relocation of some solar panels from the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital to Fort Roots is slated to begin December 21, 2021 as construction on a new main entrance to the hospital gets underway. Construction fencing has been erected in portions of the main parking lots, temporarily reducing available parking.  The panels are being relocated to the Fort Roots solar panel grid to make way for a new entrance and exit roadway into the facility as part of the new main entrance plan. Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System announced the new main entrance project at a news conference October 13, highlighting a major facelift to the facility dedicated in 1984. The $8.7 million project will take about 15 months for completion and is being accomplished in five phases.  The project will close the hospital’s south entrance for about nine months as part of the fourth phase. The project includes new physical security, new traffic flow and covered patient drop off areas, new signage, garden areas, and a new flag plaza.

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WWII Veteran honored by CAVHS

Meet 98-year-old World War II Veteran Ruth Buell, whole lives in Hot Springs. A Connecticut native, Ruth served in the Navy performing essential clerical duties in the U.S. Naval Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, from 1944-1946. As a clerk she was part of the t secretarial pool responsible for processing pay slips for sailors as they returned to land. Well before the advent of electric typewriters or computers, three shifts worked every day to ensure returning sailors pay records were processed and filed correctly. Ms. Buell was presented the CAVHS Commemorative Coin December 30 at her recent visit with the CAVHS Home Health Care team. CAVHS recognizes our WWII Veterans by presenting them with a commemorative coin in honor of their Service to our Nation.

WWII Veteran Ruth Buell, 98, holds a photo of her when she was in the service.

WWII Veteran Ruth Buell holds a CAVHS coin, presented in honor of her service during the war.