By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Northern Montana Health Care Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Julianne LaSmith spoke with New Media Broadcasters on Thursday to provide a wide-ranging update.
Alternative Flu Clinic
The majority of the COVID-19 testing being conducted by Northern Montana Health Care is taking place at their alternative flu clinic on campus. This is where people with flu-like symptoms are referred.
They are currently seeing between 20-40 patients a day.
The alternative flu clinic is located at 124 13th Street. Patients with flu-like symptoms needing to be assessed by a healthcare professional are asked to call 262-1570 to schedule an appointment.
Appointments are available on weekdays from 9 AM-5 PM.
The optimal turnaround time on tests performed at the clinic is 3-5 days, but it sometimes takes longer. Test turnaround is prioritized for symptomatic patients and those with exposure and symptoms.
Results are sent to the Hill County Health Center and Northern Montana Health Care at the same time.
“So Hill County Health calls all positives in order to make contact with them for quarantining, contact tracing and other issues. Northern Montana Health Care is pledging to call negative test results back to the patient. Starting today, we’re working through the backlog to get everyone notified. We hope to get caught up quickly. Once we are, all the calls will be made as soon as we get the results. People can call the flu clinic for their results, but we may not have them yet. So this ties up resources. So ideally, we ask Hill County residents to wait for a call and know that we are pledging to the public that we will do so.”
LaSmith adds that testing supplies for the clinic remain adequate, and they have rapid tests available for certain situations.
“It gets prioritized. So state tests is what is required to have an official answer. We do some rapid testing in cases where we need to know immediately for say, a surgical procedure or if they are going to be staying in the hospital. In the case of our employees, they are definitely prioritized. ”
Care Center
On September 27th, a COVID-19 outbreak was confirmed at Northern Montana Care Center, with eight residents and multiple employees having been initially infected.
LaSmith says the outbreak unfortunately has not slowed yet.
“We currently have a separate area for the positive residents in the Care Center that is isolated from the rest of the facility with a dedicated nursing staff. In the other wings, we are using consistent staffing to reduce the spread of the virus, and our sentinel testing continues.”
Some staff remain in quarantine, so they have had to shift staff around in order to meet the needs of the Care Center.
There are around 70 residents in Northern Montana Care Center. An exact number of COVID-19 positive residents is not currently publicly available, but some residents have already recovered. Those that have recovered are moved out of the separate area.
LaSmith says they have been providing family members of residents with daily updates at 3 PM, and weekly updates may start to be provided to the public.
Northern Montana Hospital
Northern Montana Hospital currently has 61 total beds, with between four and six of them able to be used for patients in Intensive Care.
According to data released by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, as of Wednesday, Northern Montana Hospital had five beds occupied by non-COVID patients, and three beds occupied by COVID patients.
The only ICU bed occupied as of Wednesday was being used by a COVID-19 patient. Of five ventilators available, only one was in use. That patient was not being treated for COVID-19.
LaSmith says they still have room for non-COVID patients and have not been taking in transfers from outside of Hill County at this time.
One issue, however, is maintaining an adequate supply of some items.
“Supplies are an ongoing issue throughout our organization, as it is with most medical facilities at this time. We’re conserving whenever possible and working smarter to reduce the waste.”
In light of the supply shortage, they are currently accepting donations.
They are no longer using cloth face masks, but are taking donations of other traditional Personal Protective Equipment.
To donate, call the Hospital at 265-2211 to make arrangements.
Fight the Flu Clinic
LaSmith says the drive-thru flu shot clinic held last week at the Hospital parking lot was a large success, as they gave out around 500 flu vaccinations.
“It’s safe to say that it will be our first annual as it was so successful, convenient, and well received by the community. The MSU-Northern nursing students were a tremendous help.”
Flattening the Curve
As COVID-19 continues to be on the rise on the Hi-Line, LaSmith wants to remind people to take precautions to slow the spread.
“The rise in COVID-19 cases in our county is alarming and not unexpected. The virus took longer to arrive here, but it’s most definitely here. The main thing community members can do to help the situation is to follow the guidelines from the CDC and Hill County Health, to wear masks whenever possible, stay apart from others, avoid large gatherings, and wash your hands. If you know you may have been exposed or are not feeling well, self-isolate until you know more information.”
