The flu clinic, which does not require an appointment, is across from Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. “The hospital is bursting at the seams, and the ER wait times are up to 10 hours,” said Cole R. Goodman, MD, president of Mercy Clinic Fort Smith.
Approximately 60 percent of the hospital’s recent ER visits have been nonemergency cases, Dr. Goodman said. This is the first time Mercy Fort Smith has opened a seasonal flu clinic, partly because the hospital now has an adequate number of advanced practice nurses to staff the facility, Dr. Goodman added.
Mercy Fort Smith posted signs around the hospital to direct people to the flu clinic. The flu clinic operates 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It may expand its hours if necessary, according to Dr. Goodman.
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