By LCDR Summer Pearson,
USPHS, MHA, MLS (ASCP)
Laboratory Manager
Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center
Lac Courte Oreilles Health Center is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and working with the Indian Health Service, Sawyer County Health Department, Wisconsin Department of County Health, and Hayward Hospital following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21.
Updated Coronavirus screening guidelines from the CDC state that if someone has a fever, cough or shortness of breath, and is not in need of urgent medical care they should first call their doctor or local health department to determine if testing is appropriate. The same approach applies to those that have been in direct contact with someone who is known to have COVID-19 and have a fever or symptoms of respiratory illness.
If you are worried you have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19) or are experiencing fever or symptoms of respiratory illness:
A Sawyer County Community COVID-19 Screening Hotline has been established and is available Monday -Friday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. The purpose of this hotline is to help identify people in our community who may be appropriate for coronavirus testing. All individuals who have any of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, fever or shortness of breath should call the hotline at 715-934-4518. A healthcare professional will ask you a series of questions to determine if testing is appropriate.
If the patient is a Tribal Member or has established care with Lac Courte Oreilles Community Clinic, they may receive their testing at the clinic. The employees on the hotline understand this and will instruct the patient where to go for testing and give the patient their appointment time. We have established a drive-thru testing site for patient convenience and staff safety.
Also, starting Monday, March 30, 2020 the Pharmacy will be performing curbside pick-up so patients can continue to ‘social distance’. Please order all prescription refills and medications by calling 715-638-5146. Please order 3 business days before your supply runs out, if possible. This will allow time to renew prescriptions from the prescriber, order products from the wholesaler, and get prior authorizations from the insurance carrier as needed. To double check that your order is complete the first time, please be prepared to tell us specifically, item by item, which medicines you need.
Medicine will be hand delivered to the clinic’s main entrance in the front. A pharmacist will be there to bring medication orders out to the vehicle and offer consultations as required. This will be for pick up only. Please call 715-638-5146 to order your prescription refills. Those needing home delivery let us know and we will deliver following CDC guidelines.
Dental is open for emergent dental services. Dental hours are 8am – 2:00pm. Please contact the dental department at 715-638-5144 for any dental needs.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center has worked diligently preparing the Lac Courte Oreilles Health Center staff and community emergency response for the COVID-19 virus for several months and will continue to work with the state of Wisconsin and Indian Health Service to procure enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for our health care workers.
We Thank You for your support and assistance in helping to keep our community safe during this time. We encourage you to stay home and stay safe.