Team,
It’s hard to believe, but 2026 is here. There’s a lot on the horizon for this year already – it’s going to be another busy one. I’ll share more details and our Nursing theme for the year at the annual CNO Address event, which is scheduled for March 16. I hope you’ll join in person or online so you can learn more about what’s ahead.
Many of us start the new year with good intentions and goals related to our health and wellbeing – the whole “new year, new you” mantra. I don’t know about you, but my track record in following through isn’t great. We are fortunate that as part of Team UAMS we have access to resources that can help keep us and our families healthy.
As nurses, we tend to focus on the needs of others. Consider this message from me as your flight attendant reminding you to put your own oxygen mask on before taking care of others. We are better, more effective team members when we take care of our own physical and mental health.
Your health is important for many reasons, and because you give so much of yourselves to your patients, it’s vital that you take care of yourself. As you know, there are lots of respiratory viruses around right now – please get plenty of rest, wash your hands and eat healthy so you can stay well.
If you or family members do get sick, I want to make sure you have the latest information about care and other services available to you as a UAMS employee. Please read these carefully, as several of them are new and may be beneficial to you and your family.
- Smartcare at UAMS Health is a program that gives you and your family priority access to both primary and specialty care appointments across UAMS. Employees who have UA System health insurance plans also benefit from lower copays and deductibles. As an employee, you are automatically enrolled in the program. Just call 501-686-8749 to schedule an appointment with the Smartcare access team.
- We now offer extended hours for urgent care at the Family Medical Center on the Little Rock campus for patients ages 16 and older. The clinic is open until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for minor illnesses and injuries. Appointments are required – just call 501-686-8960.
- UAMS HealthNow and MyChart Symptom Checker offer virtual care to patients across Arkansas from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. UAMS Health providers are available to help treat sinus problems, snoring, urinary symptoms, vomiting, colds and respiratory viruses, fever, body aches and back pain, anxiety and depression. You do not need a MyChart account to schedule a virtual visit – go to UAMS HealthNow to begin. Click on the Symptom Checker to answer questions about your symptoms, and you’ll be directed to the most appropriate care.
- The UAMS Outpatient Pharmacy on the first floor of the Outpatient Center offers a full array of prescription medications and common over-the-counter products such as antihistamines, first aid creams, antacids, pain relievers and cough and cold medications. They also offer provide immunization assessments and recommendations for routine, age-based, and risk-based vaccines, with select travel vaccines available. For added convenience, employees can order prescriptions refills by phone or online and have them delivered to you on the Little Rock campus. You can even pay for your prescriptions with payroll deductions, if you’d like. Specialty pharmacists are embedded within many UAMS Outpatient clinics to support providers and clinic staff with drug information decisions. The pharmacists, in tandem with pharmacy technicians, are available to help with high-cost and complicated medications and can help you get easy and affordable access to specialty drugs through support with prior authorization completion and financial assistance opportunities. The Specialty pharmacy also supports Specialty infusions within a few UAMS Outpatient clinics in the same capacity that Specialty medications are supported.
- It’s very common for nurses and others here at UAMS to need occasional help with stress management, grief, work/life balance, work-related issues or substance abuse. Thankfully, we have access to the Arkansas Employee Assistance Program for both you and your immediate family.
- ARConnect Now offers virtual support for mental health issues for all Arkansans, including UAMS employees. If you or a family member needs mental health support, I encourage you to reach out to AR Connect Now or EAP.
- Word has spread quickly about LiveWell Rewards with our UMR insurance. This is the program that allows you to earn $500 in rewards that you can convert to gifts or gift cards to Walmart, Kroger, restaurants and other retail locations. Enrollment is over for this year, but if you have already enrolled, I encourage you to schedule your wellness visits and do the on-line education to earn your rewards.
- The UAMS Fitness Center on the 8th floor of the Rahn Building costs only $15 a month for employees and is open 24/7 with badge access. You can also sponsor up to two family members for $15 a month. If you need help getting started with a workout designed for you, the Fitness Center’s personal trainers can customize a program that meets your personal goals.
I know how hard it is to find time to take care of yourself, so hopefully this information will help you take a first step toward a new workout routine, deal with issues you’ve been struggling with, refill prescriptions conveniently and care for your family, even when they get sick after work hours.
I’ll soon share more about our official Nursing theme for 2026, but let’s also pledge to help each other every way possible this year. Life is so much better when we do it together. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026!
Tammy Jones, PHD, RN, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Associate Vice Chancellor for Patient Care Services & Clinical Operations
Perioperative, Interventional & Imaging Services Division