COVID-19

Neighborhood HealthSource clinics are open and seeing patients 5 days a week in order to make sure everyone in our communities has access to the care they need during this public health emergency.

Updates about availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is available on our Vaccine FAQs page.

We are now offering Covid-19 vaccines to anyone age 6 months and up. You do not have to be a current NHS patient to get a vaccine. To make a vaccine appointment, call 612-588-9411. We offer vaccines at all four of our clinic locations.

This page offers resources and instructions for patients related to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Infórmese de como Neighborhood HealthSource ha respondido al brote de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades aquí (en español).

The State of Minnesota has a list of locations where COVID-19 testing is available. Some sites, including Neighborhood HealthSource, require an appointment for COVID-19 testing, so make sure to call ahead if necessary.

What to do if you are sick

COVID-19 testing at NHS

Updated clinic hours, policies, & procedures

Telehealth

Stay safe

Stay informed

How you can help

Español

A Letter from Our Leadership

Please read the letter below for an update from our executive director Steve Knutson on how Neighborhood HealthSource is working hard to keep patients safe and provide much-needed healthcare services to our communities during this difficult time.

What to do if you are sick with COVID-19, or suspect you are infected

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, among many others. For a full list of symptoms, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s website. If you are displaying any ill symptoms, please:

• Stay at home except to get medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. This includes public transportation.
• Separate yourself from people and animals in your home. Avoid physical contact and closeness with others.

*Note: Not all cases of COVID-19 show all known symptoms, or any symptoms. If you have any one symptom by itself or any combination of symptoms, please take the appropriate precautions listed here.

COVID-19 Testing at NHS

We have designated Central Clinic as our COVID-19 testing site in order to limit the number of symptomatic patients at our other clinics. Please follow all instructions given to you by Neighborhood HealthSource staff to help minimize the exposure of other patients, staff, and community members.

COVID-19 testing is available at no cost to Neighborhood HealthSource patients. If you wish to be tested or know you have been exposed, please call 612-588-9411 to schedule an initial telehealth screening with a provider. We do not offer unscheduled walk-in testing.

Fees associated with COVID-19 testing will be waived, including those associated with the initial telehealth screening visit. To get free COVID-19 testing, you will need to provide your insurance information. Testing is covered by most major insurers. Uninsured patients are still eligible for testing at no cost. Our staff can help you enroll in our free testing program for uninsured patients.

Updated clinic hours, policies, & procedures

At this time, all Neighborhood HealthSource clinics remain open for patients to attend regular appointments. We are taking extensive precautions and have systems in place to make sure our clinics remain safe for patients to get the care they need. Telemedicine visits are available for many types of appointments.

If you are coming into the clinic to be seen for an appointment that cannot be conducted via telehealth, please wear a mask. We are still requiring mask in our clinics regardless of state and city policies. Masking up helps protect our staff and providers, as well as other patients.

Our clinics are making the following changes to our operations to ensure the health and safety of patients, staff, and community.

• Our clinics will remain open to make sure everyone can access the care they need in this difficult time.
  
• All patients coming in to the clinic will be asked questions to screen for symptoms of COVID-19. Patients with fever, any COVID-19 symptoms, or known exposure will be placed in an exam room immediately in order to protect others in the waiting room. A medical provider will see them to address the illness, do any appropriate testing, and schedule necessary follow-ups.
  
• Patients are required to wear a mask at all times during in-clinic appointments. At no point should you remove your mask while you are inside the clinic. Providers and staff are also required to mask up inside the clinic. You will be asked to leave if you refuse to wear a mask.
  
• We continue to maintain the high cleaning standards of a medical clinic in order to keep staff, providers, and patients safe.
  
• When in the clinic, please follow all instructions given to you by Neighborhood HealthSource staff to help minimize the exposure of other patients, staff, and community members.

Telehealth

We are currently offering telehealth visits for many types of appointments. This means you can meet with a provider via secure phone or video chat from the comfort of your home. Telemedicine appointments are currently available for:

• Chronic disease management
• Birth control consultations
• Upset stomach
• Rashes & skin conditions
• Cold/flu symptoms
• Mental health & substance abuse concerns
• and more!

With telehealth, you can get the care you need from providers you trust without leaving home. If your appointment requires you to be seen in person at the clinic, please wear a mask to your appointment. This will help protect our staff and other patients. To learn more about what telehealth options are available and schedule an appointment, call our main line at 612-588-9411.

Already have a telemedicine appointment with a NHS provider? Refer to the document below for instructions on how to connect to your appointment via Zoom on your phone or computer.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19

There are simple yet effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community:

• Get vaccinated against COVID-19
• If it’s been more than 6 months since your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, get a booster
• Wear a mask any time you’re indoors in public
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your face
• Practice social distancing techniques (avoid shaking hands or other forms of direct contact with others to limit potential spread, stay 6 feet away from others in public spaces, do not attend any gatherings or public spaces if possible)
• If you come to the clinic for an appointment, you will be required to wear a mask to help protect our staff and other patients

People ages 65+: Older adults are often more severely affected by COVID-19 and should therefore take extra precautions.

People with underlying conditions: People with chronic health conditions and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to be severely affected by COVID-19. Underlying conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, among others.

Staying informed

There is a lot of information about COVID-19 in the news and online. This includes information which may not be accurate. To stay informed, use official sources such as:

• Center for Disease Control
• World Health Organization
• Minnesota Department of Health

MDH has set up a COVID-19 public hotline that is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hotline number is 1-833-431-2053.

Refer to this page for the most up-to-date patient information regarding Neighborhood HealthSource’s response to this changing situation.

How you can help

Are you looking for ways to support your community while staying at home? Neighborhood HealthSource providers and staff are on the front lines of caring for our community during this public health emergency, and we need all the help we can get. If you are able to, please consider:

• Making a financial contribution. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in many fewer patients coming to regular appointments at Neighborhood HealthSource. While the federal government has passed funding to directly address the need for COVID-19 testing and treatment at clinics like NHS, it has yet to pass more general funding to make up for decreased patient visits and help safety-net healthcare providers cover their operating expenses during this challenging time. Your donation would help us continue our mission to provide affordable, accessible healthcare to all as we continue to weather the ups and downs of this public health emergency.

Thank you for your continued support of Neighborhood HealthSource. We couldn’t do the important work we do without help from our donors, volunteers, and community members.

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