HVAC units at Hot Springs, Ark.-based National Park Medical Center are working overtime amid an ongoing heat wave, leading to uncomfortable temperatures in some areas of the facility. In response, the hospital has had to move some patients to cooler rooms.
"National Park Medical Center's top priority is providing safe, high-quality care to our community," the hospital said in a statement cited by NBC affiliate KARK in an Aug. 7 report. "As you know, our state has experienced extremely high temperatures in recent weeks. Like many other businesses in our area, our HVAC units have been running at maximum capacity to combat the historic, oppressive heat, and while they are not broken or malfunctioning, the comfort level of our facility has been impacted at some times," which has led the hospital to move some patients to cooler rooms and provide spot coolers and fans in patient care areas.
The sister of a patient who was admitted to National Park Medical Center's intensive care unit Aug. 4 told KARK temperatures reached 77 degrees in the patient's room over the weekend. Outside, temperatures were in the 90s.
"The comfort of our patients and staff is of the utmost importance to us and we have an ongoing relationship with county, state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure the safety of our patients," the hospital said in its statement.
During the week of July 31, excessive heat warnings were issued across most of the state as heat index values surpassed 100 degrees.