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Coronavirus Update

March 16, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE:

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) Tribal Health will close the Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Health Center immediately, starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Additionally, Tribal Health will close the following Health Centers starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020:

  • • Hot Springs Health Center 
  • • Elmo Health Center 
  • • Arlee Health Center

The following Tribal Health Centers (including pharmacy, medical, dental, and behavioral health services) will remain open:

  • • Polson Health Center
  • • Ronan Health Center
  • • St. lgnatius Health Center

Patients are asked to call the main phone at 406-745-3525 before coming into each Health Center and/or if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Pharmacy:  Hours for Polson and St. Ignatius Pharmacies, and Ronan Health Center pickups, will be Monday through Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm.  Prescriptions normally delivered for patient pick up at the Hot Springs, Elmo and Arlee Health Centers will be mailed directly to patients starting on 3/18/20.  Patients whose medications will be mailed need to update their phone numbers and addresses for mailing.  Please call Pharmacy directly at (406) 745-2426 to update phone numbers and mailing addresses.  Pharmacy will not mail out prescriptions until the most current mailing address is confirmed.  Please allow for approximately 4 days for postal delivery of medications.  All refill requests need to be done at least 72 hours in advance.  

Medical:  Hours will be Monday through Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm. Call the main phone at 406-745-3525 to make an appointment for urgent medical issues only, and/or if you are experiencing any symptoms of coronavirus.  Non-urgent appointments will be rescheduled for next month.

Dental: Hours will be Monday through Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm.  Call the main phone at 406-745-3525 to make an appointment for urgent dental issues only, and/or if you are experiencing any symptoms of coronavirus.  Non-urgent appointments will be rescheduled for next month.

Behavioral Health:  Hours will be Monday through Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm. Call the main phone at 406-745-3525 to make an appointment for urgent mental health issues only, and/or if you are experiencing any symptoms of coronavirus.  Non-urgent appointments will be rescheduled for next month.

Physical Therapy: services closed for the next 2 weeks. 

There will be a deep clean of the areas during this time. 

Optometry: No patient services the next 2 weeks.

The staff will be doing non-patient office work remotely.

Audiology/Speech:  No patient services the next 2 weeks.

The Tribal Health Centers are closing in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our community, and to protect the health and safety of our patients and health care providers.

COVID-19 symptoms include:

  • • runny nose
  • • sore throat
  • • cough
  • • fever
  • • difficulty breathing (severe cases)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call your health care provider immediately.

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:

  • • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
  • • Maintain at least 3 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing (social distancing).
  • • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  • • Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
  • • Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.

For more information about the CSKT and Tribal Health response to COVID-19 (coronavirus), please visit www.cskthealth.org or cskt.org.

There is a housekeeping training for tribal departments, corporations at the Tribal Health Department Polson Clinic, Wednesday March 18 at 2:00 pm at the 3rd floor conference room.  The training will focus on proper and effective cleaning guideline to minimize the spread of Coronavirus in the workplace.  If your Department or Corporation does not have a regular tribal cleaning crew and are using a contractor to clean your facility can you contact them and inform them of the training.

3-16-2020
To Tribal Government employees,
Here is a new link for all CSKT Coronavirus information  https://csktribes.org/coronavirus-update
Tribal Council passed an order Monday to slow the onset of the Coronavirus epidemic. Beginning immediately CSKT implemented a government-wide partial shutdown. All department heads were directed to establish an essential services schedule through March 27. Department heads are firming up plans on what services will remain in place and what employees can work from home.
A number of tribal programs will be scaled back, however, essential services will remain, like elder care, payroll, accounting, IIM and care of vulnerable populations. The CSKT Elders program alone has 413 elders enrolled in their care. Each of them are being contacted to assure them staff are still on hand to care for them.
The courts are rescheduling cases. Emergency hearings will take place as needed. The public will not be allowed in public defenders offices. Jean Matt, director of Mission Valley Power, said their service is crucial and they will continue to work with a full staff to keep the lights on. The Personnel offices will remain open, but they canceled in-person interviews and rescheduled other interviews. The Information Technology staff will remain to ensure communication networks are running properly. The People’s Center will be closed for the next two weeks with plans to reopen on March 30th.
Tribal Council Chairwoman reminded people to limit public gatherings, telework when possible, and she emphasized everyone’s responsibility to clean their spaces and wash their hands often.
“If you are sick, stay home,” Fyant said. “If you are showing symptoms, call before you go see a medical provider.”
For those who have more detailed questions regarding the virus, there is a state hotline that is answering all questions. The Montana Governors Coronavirus Task Force has launched an informational phone line at 1-888-333-0461 and Montanans can also email questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. State public health officials will be responding to inquiries from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. You will be asked to leave a message and your question will be returned as soon as possible.
Again, thank you for your efforts in keeping our people safe. The longer we can keep this viral infection away and limit our exposure, the greater service we provide. This is not convenient for anyone. Disruptions to work and essential services will happen, but if we can slow the infection and minimize the impact now, these inconveniences will be worth the effort. Please share this notice by posting around offices or sending to other people. More announcements will be posted on CSKT.ORG, your work email, RAVE Alerts and The Char-Koosta News Facebook Page, and the weekly print version of the paper.

March 14, 2020

The Tribal Health Department is taking all precautions to protect our community and our staff due to coronavirus concerns. Beginning immediately, all appointments at Tribal Health Facilities for the next two weeks will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Certain appointments may be cancelled and rescheduled. There is a plan in place to address medication refill needs. We recommend using the pharmacy app or online link to access refills at www.cskthealth.org. You may also call the pharmacy refill line at 745-2426.

Public access to entrances at the clinics are now limited. For the St. Ignatius Clinic please use the main entrance by the pharmacy for patients. At Polson use the west entrance. Our smaller satellite clinics may have changed hours or have intermittent closures. Medical Travel Assistance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and you will have to reschedule appointments if necessary. If you have a cough, fever, and are short of breath, and think you need to be seen, please call your providers office before leaving your home.

THD employees will not be allowed to have visitors at this time. Please inform your families of these restrictions and respect our request at this time. Our goal is to limit exposure to our high-risk populations and our staff. Thank you for your cooperation.

THD Staff

Beginning immediately, all CSKT Tribal Health Fitness Centers and Community Centers are now closed to the public because of coronavirus.

CSKT Tribal Health continues to monitor the situation closely and will keep the public informed with new developments.

Tribal Health Department is taking all precautions to protect our community and our staff due to coronavirus concerns. Beginning immediately, all appointments at Tribal Health Facilities for the next two weeks will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Certain appointments may be cancelled and rescheduled. There is a plan in place to address medication refill needs. We recommend using the pharmacy app or online link to access refills atwww.cskthealth.org. You may also call the pharmacy refill line at 406-745-2426.

Public access to entrances at the clinics are now limited. For the St. Ignatius Clinic please use the main entrance by the pharmacy for patients. At Polson use the west entrance. Our smaller satellite clinics may have changed hours or have intermittent closures. Medical Travel Assistance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and you will have to reschedule appointments if necessary. If you have a cough, fever, and are short of breath, and think you need to be seen, please call your providers office before leaving your home.

THD employees will not be allowed to have visitors at this time. Please inform your families of these restrictions and respect our request at this time. Our goal is to limit exposure to our high-risk populations and our staff. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

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