A recent case at Dardanelle Regional Medical Center brought together healthcare providers, community organizations, and local leaders to help a vulnerable woman safely return home, hundreds of miles away.

It began when Fire Chief Chris Vick and Fire and Rescue Paramedic Micah Piker of the Russellville, Arkansas, Fire Department responded to a call involving a woman in need of assistance. Upon arrival, they determined she was confused and required help. Familiar with Dardanelle Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health program, they reassured the patient and convinced her to go to the Emergency Department for evaluation. They also reached out to Russellville Mayor Fred Teague to help arrange boarding for her dog while she received care.

“They told us there was a woman staying at a hotel who seemed confused and needed help,” said Dusty Fronabarger, Director of Behavioral Health Services. “They asked if our team could step in and see what was going on.”

During the hospital evaluation, the staff made a surprising discovery. The woman was the subject of a Silver Alert issued in Washington state. Somehow, she had boarded a bus while confused and traveled across multiple states before eventually arriving in the Russellville area.

“She had essentially ridden a bus all the way from Washington and ended up here in Arkansas,” Fronabarger said. “It was incredible to realize how far she had come.”

While hospital staff worked to stabilize and evaluate the patient, the next challenge became clear: how to get her safely home. Initial conversations with family members provided little help. Her family was unable to assist in getting her home.

“We were in a tough position,” Fronabarger said.  She was medically stable, but we certainly weren’t going to discharge her to the streets.”

That’s when the hospital team and the surrounding community stepped in. Dardanelle Regional Medical Center social worker Linda Bankston began coordinating resources. With support from the nonprofit organization 100 Families in Russellville and assistance from Mayor Teague, funding was secured for a plane ticket to return the patient to Washington.

The patient’s dog, which had traveled with her, also needed special arrangements. The mayor helped cover boarding costs and vaccinations required for airline travel, while hospital staff purchased an airline-approved crate.

“It really became a full community effort,” Fronabarger said. “Everyone wanted to make sure that she and her dog got home safely.”

“I am grateful to live in such an amazing community,” said Mayor Teague. “From our first responders who noticed a situation needing our attention, then, following through to ensure this lady and her fur baby were taken to safe and secure places. The team at Dardanelle Regional went above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Through a collective effort of local government, non-profits, and private businesses, we found a positive solution in a very uncertain circumstance.”

The entire trip required careful coordination. Jason Heaggans, the hospital’s discharge planner, drove the patient approximately 90 minutes to the Little Rock airport and helped navigate the complex process of getting both the patient and her pet onto the flight.

Meanwhile, Bankston worked behind the scenes to ensure support would be waiting on the other end. She coordinated with Adult Protective Services and local law enforcement in Washington state to prepare for the patient’s arrival.

“She even created a laminated tag with information about where the patient was going and instructions in case she became confused during travel,” Fronabarger said. “She worked closely with the airline to make sure wheelchair assistance was arranged at every stop.”

When the patient landed in Washington, Adult Protective Services took custody and helped place her in a facility where she could receive the care and supervision she needed.

For Fronabarger, the experience highlighted the impact of teamwork and community partnership.

“In the end, it took persistence and a lot of people working together,” he said. “But because of that effort, she’s now in a safe place where someone can advocate for her and make sure she’s taken care of.”

“This story reflects the heart of our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate health care services,” said Alan Finley, President of Dardanelle Regional Medical Center. “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the community partners who worked together to ensure this patient received the support she needed.”