S moke S ignals
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Health & Wellness Center closures
• Friday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
• Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Restoration Day
• Wednesday, Nov. 23 – Tribal offices closed
• Thursday, Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving
• Friday, Nov. 25 – Tribal offices closed
The Health & Wellness Center will have additional
urgent care providers available on
Monday, Nov. 21, to meet patient needs.
Text message appointment reminders
Appointment reminders at the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center
via text will be available soon.
After a recent Broken Appointment Survey conducted by the Health &
Wellness Center, there was an overwhelming request for text message
appointment reminders. In the coming weeks, we will begin collecting your
preferred appointment reminder contact information for this new service.
We also will provide information on the survey results. We are grateful
to everyone who participated in the survey. We look forward to improving
access to care at the Health & Wellness Center.
Don’t get caught
without your medication
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center Pharmacy hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
REFILL LINE: 503-879-2342
Broken Appointment Policy
for the Health & Wellness Center
PURPOSE: Broken or missed appointments create a barrier to
accessing timely care for our patients. This policy allows the Health
& Wellness Center to maximize our patient’s access to care by speci-
fying the patient’s responsibilities in regard to broken appointments.
POLICY: It is the responsibility of each patient to keep scheduled
appointments or to notify the Health & Wellness Center of his or
her inability to keep a scheduled appointment at least 24 hours in
advance.
PROCEDURE:
A. Broken Appointment Definitions:
1. A patient fails to keep a scheduled appointment;
2. A patient shows up more than 10 minutes late;
3. A patient fails to give 24-hour cancellation notice.
B. Consequences:
After the third broken appointment in a 12-month time frame, the
patient will not be allowed to schedule routine care appointments.
However, patients will be offered a same day sit-and-wait appoint-
ment without a guarantee that a timeslot will become available
and they will be allowed to utilize emergency hours for any dental
emergencies. This probationary period will last for four months.
The clinic will strive to notify patients of appointments the day
before. This is a courtesy; if the call is not received it is not an ac-
ceptable excuse for missing an appointment.
After each broken appointment the Provider Team will evaluate
the appropriate action and notify the patient. The notification should
be in writing, with the dates of any missed appointments within the
past 12 months listed. It is the responsibility of the Provider Team
to evaluate and document any action in the medical record.
When the third broken appointment occurs within a 12-month time
frame, the Provider Team will notify patient registration and have an
alert added to the record indicating the date the patient may resume
routine scheduling. Schedulers are to review alerts before scheduling.
The policy was put in place clinicwide in December 2014 to ensure
that patients are able to get in to see their providers in a timely
manner. Call and cancel your appointments at least 24 hours in
advance, if at all possible.
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Medication reminders for November
It will be very important to plan ahead for your medication refills during
the week of Nov. 21-25 since the Pharmacy will be closed four of the five
days.
Please call if you have any questions to the Refill Line at 503-879-2342.
IMPORTANT SKOOKUM HEALTH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
INFORMATION
If you feel you like you are not receiving services you have request-
ed through Skookum Health Assistance Program, please contact
one of our SHAP Team members right away.
We understand that coordinating services with alternate resources
and navigating health care can be difficult. Please call:
• Barbara Steere, 503-879-2487;
• Melody Baker, 503-879-2011;
• Tauni McCammon, 503-879-1406;
• Erica Mercier, 503-879-2080;
• Tresa Mercier, 503-879-2008;
• Or 800-775-0095.
A healthy Tribal membership is our goal and we want everyone
to feel like they are receiving quality, comprehensive health care
services. In the coming months, we will be working on a process
for Tribal members to share issues, concerns, needs and wins. Yes,
that’s right, wins. We want to hear about the good things, too!
New Optometry hours
• 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday
• 9:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Please call to schedule your appointment
at 503-879-2079 or 800-775-0095.
Skookum and Veterans
Affairs clinic visits
It’s important to remember that when you are seen for health care
services at a Veterans Affairs’ clinic that you do not list your Skoo-
kum Health Assistance Program (SHAP) as your insurance cover-
age. SHAP is NOT insurance and it can be difficult to coordinate
payment for health care services received at the VA.
If you have questions, contact:
• Barbara Steere – 503-879-2487
• Melody Baker – 503-879-2011
Community Health Program
Medical Transport
Services
Medical transportation
services are available to
Tribal members within
the six-county service
area when an alternate
means of transportation
is not available. Advance
notice required.
Please call 503-879-2078
to schedule a reservation.