Update on Soo Tribe health clinic closure

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS

************************* Tribal Health Center to offer partial services during repairs

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - (November 5) - The Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Health Center will be closed temporarily throughout this week due to recent water damage caused by a ruptured water line on the third floor of the facility.

The health center’s scheduling office and contract health department has been relocated to the Mary Murray/Bonnie McKerchie building at 2218 Shunk Road, next to the Kewadin Casino and Convention Center.

Patients with medical appointments scheduled for this week will be notified by phone over the next several days for rescheduling.

The clinic’s main phone line will still be in use.

All other clinic phone extensions should be active by Tuesday.

During an emergency, patients are reminded to call 911 for immediate medical attention.

For non-emergencies, patients are directed to call War Memorial Hospital and utilize the community care walk-in clinic.

For more information please call the Tribal Health Center’s main phone line at (906) 635-5200.

Construction personnel will continue working throughout the week to facilitate the necessary repairs and cleaning.

A timeline for completion of the repairs and a reopening date for the clinic have not yet been determined.

In the interim, some health staff has been re-assigned to other tribal clinics such as the Lambert Center in St. Ignace, Kinross and Manistique Tribal Centers, and DeTour to help keep some appointments.

Health administrators are also working to maintain some essential services such as filling prescriptions.

Those patients who call in for medications can now leave a message on the pharmacy refill line at (906) 632 5226.

According to Health Division Director Bonnie Culfa, “Patients, who called in medication refills this past Friday or had medication to pick up, can go to the Mary Murray/Bonnie McKerchie building to pick them up now. Patients needing to be seen can call the main phone number to schedule an appointment. We will be ready to see patients at the Mary Murray/Bonnie McKerchie building beginning tomorrow. We are going to be able to provide as many services as we can during this week.”

The health center’s administrative staff and Anishnabek community and family services (ACFS) were relocated to the Sault Tribe Administration Complex at 523 Ashmun Street.

ACFS staff will be available at their temporary address for all programs and can still be contacted by phone at (906) 632-5250 or by facsimile at (906) 632-5266.

Mental health services was relocated to the Social Services Building located at 1022 Portage Street.

The traditional health program was relocated to the Lambert Center in St. Ignace.

Information on the progress of the construction and the future operating hours of the health center will be announced as the information becomes available.

For more information please call (906) 632-5200.

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