Oyate Health Center Takes Further Steps to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

In addition to the creation of the Southwest Screening Clinic, we are continuing to implement recommendations from the CDC. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please contact the Oyate Health Center at (605) 355-2500 before visiting the campus.

Optometry Changes

Due to our response to the Coronavirus pandemic and in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and the American Optometric Association recommendations, the following changes will be effective immediately and until further notice:

We will only be providing urgent and emergent care for patients. These conditions include a sudden decrease in vision or loss of vision, flashes of light in vision, sudden onset floaters, distortions in vision, eye pain, redness, double vision, discharge, swelling of the eye, or eye injury. However, we will not be able to provide any routine eye care, glasses ordering, or glasses repairs until further notice. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

If you are seen in the Eye Clinic, you are asked to come by yourself if possible.

You will be asked screening questions as you enter the eye clinic.

Optometry Hours

Until further notice, our hours of operation for urgent and emergent conditions will be:

Monday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday: On-Call Availability

Should you have any further questions, you can call the Oyate Eye Clinic at 605-355-2213. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these difficult times. Optometry and dental patients should still call the facility to receive pre-arrival instructions.

Dental Changes

We have modified our service to prevent the spread of covid-19. When a drill is running in someone’s mouth, there is a large cloud of aerosolized spray generated that carries germs to many unwanted places. The American Dentistry Association is seeking to temporarily reduce the use of handpieces until we have a better understanding of covid-19. We can still pull teeth, place temporary fillings (with no drill), place medicaments, handle prescription medications.

Additionally, OHC dental will be operating ½ day clinics in order to assist other departments with COVID screening. We have attempted to keep clinic hours as familiar as possible for our patients during this time:

Monday: 7 AM- 12 PM
Tuesday: 7 AM- 12 PM
Wednesday: 12:30 PM-5:00 PM
Thursday: 7 AM-12:00 PM
Friday: 7AM to 12:00 PM

Optometry and dental patients should still call the facility to receive pre-arrival instructions.

How you can help protect your providers and family members

We are grateful for the overwhelming offers of support pouring in from our community. Many are asking for ways to support our team members and patients. Currently, OHC staff has adequate personnel protective equipment (PPE) but anticipate that the need will quickly exceed what is available due to national shortages, so are requesting donations to help supplement our supply.

This is a list of unopened (sealed) medical supplies that will be accepted:

Earloop masks
N-95 respirator masks
Surgical isolation masks
Isolation masks with visors
Full face shields (with forehead straps)
Eye shields
Goggles
Isolation gowns
Disinfectant bleach wipes
Hand sanitizers
Nitrile gloves (any size)

We are also accepting donations of homemade cloth masks. The cloth masks help to extend the life of traditional medical PPE equipment. You can also access it here.

No special instruments are required to create the masks we are looking for. The pattern we have included here is easy to follow and has been created by UnityPoint Health and is being shared across the globe in the fight against COVID-19.

Your time and talent can greatly impact our ability to care for our relatives and help ensure our staff’s safety. Fabric masks offer the benefit of being able to be washed and re-used. These masks can also extend the life of other PPE.

JOANN Fabrics and Craft Stores have also released a helpful tutorial.