Tuesday, March 17, 2020
To our Tribal Members, Employees and Patients:
The Health Division wants to keep you updated about what we are doing to respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. We have four major goals as we respond to the spread of virus and threats to the Forest County Potawatomi Community:
- To do everything possible to stop the spread of the virus.
- To test those at greatest risk of getting very sick from the virus.
- To continue to provide other medical needs as safely as possible.
- To provide accurate information about the virus.
Some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and loved
ones are:
- Stay home if you are sick
- Avoid public gatherings and spaces
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently for 20 seconds
- Postpone visiting those that are sick
- Wash frequently touched objects and surfaces
Symptoms of Coronavirus are:
- Fever above 100.4 degrees
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat (in some cases)
If you have any questions or concerns regarding symptoms call the Health Center FIRST at 715.478.4339 before coming in and someone will recommend what your next course of action should be. Do not come to the Health Center without calling first if you think you may have the Coronavirus. If it is determined you should be seen, you will be given instructions on which entrance to use. Staff requests that patients who have a cough put on a mask when they enter the building and that ALL visitors use hand sanitizer upon entry.
The Health Center has the ability to test patients suspected of having the coronavirus. The decision to test a patient will dependent upon their clinical examination and symptoms when seen by either their physician or nurse practitioner.
The Aspirus Health System has established a COVID-19 Call Center for any coronavirus questions. They have a dedicated line staffed by live operators from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday, and 8am to 5pm on weekends. THE CALL CENTER NUMBER IS 1-844-568-0701.
Staying informed while remaining calm is key. Protect yourself by following the guidelines above to avoid getting sick. Know the symptoms and contact either the FCP Health & Wellness Center or the Aspirus Call Center with questions. Problem solving and getting information that is factual from reliable sources is wise; worrying is not!
Your safety and well-being is our priority! We are working closely with Federal, State, and County agencies on a daily basis to ensure we have the latest accurate guidelines and information. Please check our FCP Facebook and website forfrequent updates. You can also sign up to receive email updates directly from the CDC at: https://tools.cdc.gov/campaignproxyservice/subscriptions.aspx. We will continue to provide updates on a timely basis.
Warm Regards,
Dorothy Sadowski
FCP Health Division Administrator