Coronavirus Disease Information

All PCHC Walk-in care clinics are open.
PCHC Walk-In-Care is open to everyone, not just PCHC patients.

Walk-in-Care locations are open 7 a.m. -7 p.m. Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on weekends.

PCHC Dental Center cares about your smile! The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily changed how we can serve our community. At this time the US Centers for Disease Control, federal and state guidelines continue to restrict service to emergent/urgent care ONLY.

The safety of our patients and staff is our priority, and we will continually evaluate operations to keep everyone as safe as possible. Your next visit at PCHC Dental Center may be different than you’ve experienced in the past.  We ask for your patience and understanding in the face of these changes.

Universal masking, temperature monitoring and disinfection of non-patient care areas in addition to our rigorous cleaning protocols in exam areas after each patient, are implemented for everyone’s safety.

Orthodontic patients are being reviewed by Dr. Thayer and will be seen as appropriate under the current restrictions and guidelines.

The Dental Center will continue to follow recommendations of the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control and elective treatment will resume once guidelines allow. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns in the meantime at (207) 992-2152.

Walk-in care services for emergent/urgent care are Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm.

We are working hard to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. We also want to be certain that if you need care you can get it.  That is why we are screening all people who come to our practices for fever and symptoms of Covid-19, and we are and having everyone in our practices (including patients) wear masks at all times.  We have created separate waiting areas and exam rooms for people who have respiratory illnesses,  we have enhanced cleaning processes, and we have developed workflows to ensure proper social distancing once you are inside our buildings.

When you call for an appointment, we will work with you to decide how best to meet your needs.  It might be a visit using simple technology to provide face-to-face telehealth services, allowing you to see and talk with your provider by video over the internet, or an in-person visit at one of our practices.  It’s true that telehealth can work for a lot of your healthcare needs, but some medical needs cannot be met by video.  We want to make sure you get those things taken care of, too. We are offering in person visits and and  face-to-face telehealth video appointments with your  provider.

All patients, visitors and staff are wearing masks.   To the greatest extent possible we are minimizing exposure in waiting rooms by staggering essential scheduled visits, escorting patients directly into treatment rooms, separating patients in waiting areas who are sick away from those who are well, and we have implemented an intense hourly cleaning/sanitizing protocol for public areas in all our locations and a facility-wide deep cleaning twice daily.

We have some specific updates.  This information may change quickly, so if you have questions, it is always best to call before coming in.

ADULT WELLNESS CENTER
Our newest practice, open and accepting new and referred patients now.  PCHC’s Adult Wellness Center Offers health care services for adults over the age of 18.  Practice appointment hours:  7:30 am – 5 pm. Call (207) 404-8100.

SEAPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
Temporary Change in Hours of Operation Effective 4/15/20
Seaport Community Health Center Walk-in-Care will close at 5 p.m.  Monday-Friday
Pharmacy hours remain unchanged, open 8am to 6pm .  Pharmacy Closed on Weekends.
Weekend Walk-in-Hours remain open 9am – 3pm.
Primary Care hours remain unchanged, open 7:30am – 5pm or by appointment

Call (207) 338-6900 with any questions.

WINTERPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

CAPEHART COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
New Schedule beginning April 1, 2020 – Closed Wednesdays.  Walk-in-Care is open and available to assist patients. PCHC Walk-in-Care Locations are open for all patients on this day from  7am – 7pm at Brewer Medical Center, Helen Hunt Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Center and Penobscot Pediatrics.

PENOBSCOT PEDIATRICS
 Telehealth  options are available. Well-checks at 12 months of age and under are considered essential,  and continue.  Patients are escorted through separate entrance and directly to exam room.

HOPE HOUSE HEALTH AND LIVING CENTER
EMERGENCY SHELTER
Shelter Open 24/7; Business Office M-F 8am – 5pm
Emergency Shelter is open and will  continue to serve the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in this crisis, with ramped infection control and screening protocols.

HOPE HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Health Center Clinic  8am-5pm by appointment,  Monday – Friday
Telehealth and in person visits available.

JACKMAN HEALTH CENTER
8 a.m. –  5 p.m., Monday-Friday
After hours services available er are available.  PLEASE CALL (207) 668-7755.

Thanks to a vote by the Jackman board of selectmen and cooperative work between PCHC, the Town of Jackman,  and the paramedic organization, North East Mobile Health Services (North East), a group of paramedics is now working with our providers (physician, nurse practitioner and/or physician assistant) to continue to provide 24/7 care.

As your local health care providers, we strongly urge people to pay attention to the social-distancing recommendations put forth by the Maine CDC and the governor’s office, to protect yourself, and others.

CHIROPRACTIC
PODIATRY
SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY
PHYSICAL THERAPY
OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION,
OFFICE-BASED DERMATOLOGY PROCEDURES
These medical specialty services are being offered only in cases where the need is urgent or where services can be accessed via telehealth. Call (207) 404-8000

UNLIMITED CLUBHOUSE
Clubhouse community space is open by appointment to account for social distancing and with limited appointments.   Club House staff continue to provide services by telehealth to members.  Call (207) 404-8383.

PHARMACY SERVICES
Our Pharmacy services are offering a text messaging option for notification of prescription refills in addition to the standard telephone notification.  Patients can now request medications be delivered curbside outside the clinics, reducing the need for patients to enter the pharmacy.  These are just some of the ways Pharmacy Services are working to keep staff and patients safe while ensuring patients receive the medication they need

• Mailing of most prescriptions is available
• Curbside delivery is available.
• You may pay ahead by phone to reduce time spent in the clinics
• Most prescriptions can be transferred from outside pharmacies to PCHC if wait times are too long
• All staff in the pharmacy wear masks, eye shields and gloves  when delivering curbside
• Barriers at the checkout/cash register in each pharmacy have been installed in each location to protect staff and patients

Call (207) 404-8000 to be connected to your respective pharmacy.

We are temporarily suspending access to some of our non-clinical/administrative/business/support services buildings. Call (207) 404 -8000  to be  connected to the appropriate department so we can be sure to continue to assist everyone.

PCHC leadership is part of a multidisciplinary group of area health care leaders who are working together to develop and implement community-wide strategies to be prepared, along with local, state and federal officials. We are listening to our staff and our patients.  We are striving to keep informed and to inform…and to provide access to the most up-to-date information from the CDC in support our most valuable resources –  our staff, our patients and our greater community.

What is COVID-19

COVID-19 is a newly discovered coronavirus that causes respiratory illness that can spread from person-to-person.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms can be mild to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.  People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Some people, usually older adults or immunocompromised, may have more severe complications, such as pneumonia.

Help prevent the spread of COVID-19

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. You can take basic precautions and practice good prevention practices, including:

• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick or have flu-like symptoms.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Then, discard the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces with a household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

What about face masks? – ALL Patients, Visitors and Staff required to wear a surgical mask while at PCHC.  The CDC recommends  and our governor mandates wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

PCHC is working  with the Community Health Leadership Board’s Mask UP for ME campaign  to make cloth face coverings available to any patient or staff member who needs one for use  outside our practice.  Ask a member of your care team at your next visit if you need a free  cloth face covering.

Local COVID-19 Testing at PCHC

PCHC Clinicians will test (or arrange for testing) for anyone with symptoms suggestive of an infection with Covid-19.
Testing by appointment only.
Call(207)404.8100
For Triage and Screening for a COVID-19 Test.

Stay Informed about COVID-19

Here are some useful links from the CDC:

• 2019 Novel Coronavirus Home
• What You Need to Know About COVID-19: Fact Sheet
• What to Do If You Get Sick: Fact Sheet