Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board

So That The People May Live | Hecel Oyate Kin Nipi Kte

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CEO Statement: Vulnerable Populations at Risk

June 9, 2020

RAPID CITY — Patients at the Oyate Health Center continue to represent a disproportionate amount of the COVID-19 case in Pennington County. So far, 101 total people have tested positive for the virus at the facility.

With a recent outbreak at a local nursing home, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board is continuing to recommend that individuals practice social distancing to lessen their risk of contracting COVID-19. 

CEO Jerilyn Church – Community Update 6/9/2020

 

“Ȟtayétu wašté Oyate Health Center relatives.  Jerilyn LeBeau Church emaciyape ksto, I greet you this Tuesday with good wishes for you and your family.  

The Oyate Health Center has 29 new cases of COVID-19 to report. From June 2 through June 9, the OHC conducted 121 tests, 29 of those tests were positive. To this date, we have done 469 Covid-19 tests, with 101 total positives.  

The Oyate Health Center patient population continues to represent a disproportionate number of cases in Pennington County.  Despite the active cases among us, some are still unwilling to wear masks in public, practice social distancing or even quarantine themselves when symptomatic.

Yesterday, it was reported that 26 residents and staff at the Avantara Arrowhead nursing home tested positive for COVID-19.  These new cases at Avantara Arrowhead are examples of how highly contagious this virus is to our most vulnerable.

Finding ways to slow the spread of the disease among the elderly, homeless, addicted, and disabled is an additional challenge. The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board has reached out to the Mayor of Rapid City, Pennington County, the South Dakota State Health Department, Indian Health Service, Monument Health and other local agencies to develop a collaborative effort to care for those community members who suffer from these afflictions in addition to Covid-19.

Some of our community members suffer from exacerbated anxiety or depression brought to the surface by COVID-19 or prolonged isolation.  We encourage all who need additional mental health support to please schedule an appointment with one of our providers.  We have increased our ability to provide care through telehealth at the Oyate Health Center.

We would like to remind everyone to practice self-care during these difficult times. We have included with our briefing a self-care resource that may help some of you deal with the changes this virus has brought about.

In additional to telehealth services, our Urgent Care and Southwest Clinic remains open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Continue to join us in prayer for the safety and health of our Oyate.

Mitakuye Oyasin”

Jerilyn Church

CEO Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board 

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