Horizon Health Care acknowledges that its operations have changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. What has not changed is the deep commitment the organization holds to continue to provide care to rural communities across the state of South Dakota.
“As an organization, we have maintained operations in all of our regions across the state. Our employees, like everyone, have been impacted by the pandemic on a personal level. Every decision we make is through the lens of ensuring safety for both our patients and our employees,” noted Christina Konechne, Chief Operating Officer of Horizon Health Care.
The organization has implemented many new procedures to ensure patient and staff safety, including screening procedures, car side COVID-19 testing, availability of personal protective equipment and a rotating schedule where possible to ensure the workforce is preserved. Employees are screened each day when entering the building to ensure they do not show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
Horizon Health Care currently has COVID-19 testing available at all of their medical clinics, though not everyone can be tested due to the availability of testing supplies and the requirements laboratories have set on which specimens can be processed. Patients are encouraged to call their local clinic if they have symptoms of COVID-19 for further guidance.
The organization is leveraging new technologies to keep patients and staff safe as well. Patients can now receive care through a TeleVideo visit or a telephone visit. To schedule an appointment, patients should simply call their local Horizon Health Care clinic where their provider will help determine which visit is right for their care.
“We want to reiterate to our patients and the community that we are here for you, our doors are not closed. Although we are in the middle of a pandemic, we recognize that other health
concerns and questions exist too. We are seeing patients in the clinic, in the parking lot, over the phone and through video,” remarked Lance Lim, Chief Medical Officer for Horizon Health Care.
The Horizon Health Foundation continues to partner with donors and to raise dollars for the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the Employee Emergency Fund. These funds will specifically enable our clinical staff to sustain their resilience while providing safe, high-quality care to our patients and community, and financial assistance to employees experiencing a hardship during this time.
About Horizon Health Care
For the past 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.