COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Update
During this challenging time, Cascadia is working in parallel with Multnomah County and the Oregon Health Authority, as well as following CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines to protect our employees, clients, and community members. We take this outbreak very seriously.
Cascadia has an Incident Command Center Team – led by Chief Medical Officer Jeffrey Eisen – to ensure a consistent approach across the agency.
- We are insuring we have adequate supplies for prevention and preparedness.
- We have protocols in place for clients and colleagues with suspected signs or symptoms of flu or coronavirus.
- We have cleaning plans in place for each site, where sanitizing is happening multiple times throughout the day.
- We are limiting external access at our residential facilities for individuals with signs or symptoms of cold, flu, or coronavirus.
- We have plans in place to address absenteeism among our staff.
- We are reaching out to our most vulnerable community members — including those who are houseless, or have limited access to information and resources – to make sure they have trustworthy information.
Current Hours of Operation & Available Services
Telehealth
The stress of the COVID-19 outbreak on our traditional methods of service delivery, along with the need to maintain the quality of services and safety with our patients and staff, creates an opportunity for innovation. Telehealth (telephone, televideo, telemedicine) services are being introduced across our organization at a rapid pace. In order to help stop the spread of the COVID-19, we encourage individuals seeking care to utilize our telehealth services. To schedule an appointment, new clients should call (503) 674-7777 and existing clients should check in with their care provider, or call the front desk at their home site.
Primary care telehealth appointments are available Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM for new or existing patients. For primary care telehealth appointments call (503) 261-6388.
Health Centers
On July 6, all health centers will expand hours Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
In-person primary care appointments will take place at our Plaza Health Center, Garlington Health Center, and Woodland Park Health Center from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Primary care will continue to have a triage nurse in person and by phone for any client who may walk in and need to be evaluated. To schedule an appointment call (503) 674-7777.
All visitors will be asked health screening questions and asked to wear a mask for their protection while in the clinic (if they don’t have a mask, one will be provided). We are also encouraging clients and staff to follow six-feet social distancing guidelines whenever possible.
COVID-19 Testing
To ensure the health and safety of our clients, staff, and community, Cascadia will now be offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing to primary care and residential clients at our Plaza, Woodland Park, and Garlington Health Centers. If you’re interested in receiving a test, we encourage you to check-in with your current provider regarding the next steps and prerequisites for testing.
Urgent Walk-In Clinic
As of June 22, our Urgent Walk-In Clinic (located at 4212 SE Division) will expand hours back to 7:00 a.m to 10:30 p.m. daily.
All visitors will be asked health screening questions and asked to wear a mask for their protection while in the clinic (if they don’t have a mask, one will be provided). We are also encouraging clients and staff to follow six-feet social distancing guidelines whenever possible.
CAIR Line
Beginning July 6, our CAIR line, (503) 674-7777, will operate daily from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Pharmacy
Our pharmacy (located inside our Garlington Health Center) will remain in operation, but will be closed to seeing clients. Staff will have doors and windows shut and will be preparing mail orders for clients.
Group Meetings and Community Activities
All acupuncture appointments and community activities are cancelled at this time. We will be resuming these at a later date and will be contacting clients. Groups will remain virtual.
Latest News and Information
To ensure the health and safety of our clients, staff, and community, Cascadia will now be offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing to primary care and residential clients at our Plaza and Garlington Health Centers. If you’re interested in receiving a test, we encourage you to check-in with your current provider regarding next steps and prerequisites for testing. Due to limited supplies, this service is only available for current clients and residents of Cascadia at this time.
Multnomah County is approved to enter Phase 1 of reopening on Friday, June 19. While this is exciting news for some residents and business owners, this is not a return to business as usual. COVID-19 is still a significant and imminent threat to the health and safety of our community, and we need to continue to take measures to slow the spread of the virus even as we transition out of the Stay at Home order.
As we continue to practice physical distancing under Oregon’s Stay at Home order, many of us are feeling frustrated and maybe looking for ways to keep busy. Although we’re limited in what we’re able to do, continuing to take part in activities that will keep our bodies and minds engaged is crucial to our health during this time.
OHSU has two drive-up testing sites for anyone over two-months-old with COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, and sore throat. No appointment or referral from a provider is needed.
As we enter the month of May and the next phase of our state’s Stay at Home order, it’s important for us all to remain committed to protecting ourselves and our fellow community members from COVID-19. Keeping up with so much news and information can be difficult – here are the key recommendations to keep in mind that will help keep our community safe and healthy.
While national conversations often claim that COVID-19 impacts all Americans the same, this is not the case. Yes, we are all impacted by the pandemic, but not equally. This pandemic is hitting certain groups and communities much harder, including those living in poverty, marginalized communities, refugees and immigrants, Latinx people, Native Americans, homeless people, LBGTQ people, older adults, and people with linguistic barriers.
The Portland Housing Bureau has reallocated $1 million from its budget into a COVID-19 Emergency Household Stabilization Fund for households suffering a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide limited direct cash assistance to at least 2,000 households to help cover urgent needs like groceries, rent, utilities, and medical expenses.
During these challenging and uncertain times, it’s important to remember we have tools and resources that can help. Even when options are more limited than usual, there are strategies that can improve your mental health while we practice physical distancing.
As we practice physical distancing and isolate in our homes, you may be feeling helpless about the current situation, and you’re not alone. If you’re looking for ways to help during this time of hardship and uncertainty, there are still plenty of safe opportunities to support our community, many of which you can do without leaving your home.
April 10, 2020: Facing a Mental Health Challenge in the Midst of COVID-19? Cascadia is Here to Help.
During this challenging time, the need for support and resources is greater than ever – Cascadia is here to help. We encourage individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis to visit our Urgent Walk-in Clinic (located at 4212 SE Division), which is open daily from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, its severity, and to what extent it may spread in the United States. To date, citizens in all 50 states in the U.S. and 151 countries around the world have contracted the virus. Stay up to date on how to best protect yourself and your community.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people, but coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. There are many ways we can support our community members who may be more isolated during this time.
To help support our community and our essential healthcare workers during this crisis, Cascadia will be coordinating a mask donation project for community members who are willing to get out their sewing machines and create homemade masks! Community members are welcome to create adult-sized masks, donate them to Cascadia, and we will help distribute to healthcare workers our community.