COVID-19 at Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic, LLC
While we don’t yet know the extent to which COVID-19 will impact our community, it is important for us to take necessary precautions to slow the spread of this virus. As many area schools and offices have now closed, we are doing all we can to stay open on a day to day basis if we can. We are relying on CDC and DHHS recommendations to make decisions going forward. In this time of uncertainty, we are especially concerned and focused on you, your families, and your team here at GIMH.
While social distancing has been strongly recommended, we are doing the best we can to ensure all individuals are as safe as possible while also attending to your mental health and emotional needs. Times like these can cause various levels of chaos, confusion, anxiety, and fear in our communities and around the nation. We are working to do all we can to navigate this epidemic with you to walk through these unknowns together. We want to assure you that no clients will be left without services or their support team at Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic. As we do not have all the systems we need at this time, we are working around the clock to gain access to programs and procedures that will allow us to offer alternatives to our usual services to seamlessly continue your care if our office would be to close. We will do all we can to communicate these changes with you as we move forward.
As of right now, we are offering telehealth options (video-chat) to any persons who would prefer to stay home and not come to the office for appointments. This telehealth option is completely HIPPA compliant, confidential, covered by insurance, and is very easy to use through a computer or smart phone app. While we are allowing clients to be seen in the office right now, we do foresee telehealth being the main option for services going forward as we are unsure how long these recommendations from the CDC will last. With the hours of research we have done regarding telehealth, many therapists and clients around the country are reporting very positive feedback using telehealth as an alternative as well as the system we are planning to use. As with any change, there will be an initial transition period before you could feel completely comfortable with this new way of receiving services but we assure you, the quality of care you will receive will be the same that you have come to know and expect from our office, staff members, and providers.
The information we have gotten states that there is an incubation period with this virus, so there essentially is no way to completely eliminate exposure risk. If you do know that you have come into contact with someone diagnosed with the illness, but do not have symptoms yourself, we also ask that you follow CDC guidelines of self-quarantine. To ensure the health and safety of all individuals, we are also asking you to stay home if you or anyone in your household or family are: experiencing any cold or flu symptoms, over the age of 65, have any chronic illnesses, a weakened immune system, or come in close contact with any of the previous individuals. We are asking that you do not bring anyone beyond yourself/parent/guardian to your appointment as all additional individuals will be asked to wait in the car for the duration of your appointment. We will be doing everything we can to minimize risk of exposure by increasing all sanitizing procedures and limiting contact with front office staff. We are currently working on an electronic system to gather payments, insurance cards, signatures, and paperwork in order to reduce exposure to staff.
This is a very unknown and confusing time in our nation right now but please know that even though this is a serious situation, we hope that you can recognize these steps as a necessary measure to keep our community safe not an indication of any panic or unnecessary concern. We, at Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic, are choosing to see these times in a positive light and are working to use these challenges to further improve the way we treat and offer services to you going forward.
Many of the new systems we are putting in place will be able to help us for years to come. Therefore, we are choosing to be grateful for the obstacles resulting from this situation that have helped us to establish these great resources for you now. We will continue to be here for you and will be keeping your care at the center of all our decisions in this office. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding this issue and how it is impacting you or our office, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone, text, or email. Please continue to follow all CDC guidelines to protect yourself and others during this time.
Some positive actions you can take during this time:
Take this time to spend with your families; sit down for family dinner, play games together, watch movies, or just take time you wouldn’t normally have to be with one another.
Consider calling or video chatting any individuals who may be isolated in their homes at this time.
This could include those who are experiencing shut down in areas of higher risk, older individuals, pregnant mothers, or anyone with lower immune systems.
Use any extra time at home to gather items or clothing that you are no longer using to donate to those who are or will be financially impacted by this virus outbreak Call or video chat with friends or family you haven’t otherwise had the time to connect with.
Write letters or send cards to local nursing homes, assisted livings, or retirement homes for individuals who are being isolated in their rooms and unable to connect with family, friends, or staff members Use this time to do early spring cleaning in your home.
Find educational worksheets, games, or trivia online to do with your family and children to keep their brains active during this time.
Use this time to clean a closet, reorganize a pantry, paint a wall, or just generally get some tasks done on your to-do list.
Use what you have around the house to craft or start a new hobby.
Complete crossword and sudoku puzzles.
Start an adult coloring book or use online coloring sites.
Scroll pinterest to find new recipes, fun activities, or projects to complete.
Download apps geared towards mental health such as meditation guidance, peaceful puzzles, journaling, or motivation and daily quotes.
Read a book, listen to a podcast, or start an audiobook.
Be the hope and strength in your family and community by finding that this situation can be used to impact your life in a positive way Lean on your support team to get you and your family through this time and ask for help when you need
Some services our office is able to offer you at this time:
Telehealth (video-chat) sessions
Telephone sessions for those unable to access telehealth options
Parenting support and guidance
Stress Management
Child and Adolescent sessions
Family and Marital Counseling
Community Support Services
Information regarding aid, support, and new benefits that are available during this time
Assistance in applying for financial assistance, Medicaid, food stamps, and unemployment benefits
Thank you for your understanding and your ongoing trust in our office,
Debra Erickson, Owner 308-398-0350 ex1 debra@gimhmc.com
Jordan Hofmann, Owner 308-398-0350 ex2 jordan@gimhmc.com
We are proud to offer sliding scale-reduced fees for services in our office!!
Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic is the area's premiere counseling, therapy, and medical center specializing in child, adolescent, trauma, geriatric, family, relationship counseling, and medical services. We now offer convenient medical primary care and medication management services! Our licensed therapists and medical providers are here to help you gain the resources you need to make lasting changes in your life. Our goal is to partner with our clients to provide the most beneficial treatment possible. Our mental health therapy and medical services are available to persons of all ages; offering easily accessible, comprehensive mental health care accepting most major insurance plans including Medicaid.
At Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic we work with our clients to treat a wide range of mental illnesses as well as end of life, relationship, and family issues. Mental Illness refers to mental health conditions and disorders that can affect your mood, thinking, and behavior.Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. These concerns can cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function, causing problems in all areas of your life. Often, behavioral and emotional concerns can cast a shadow on everyday life, creating additional problems that may, in time, get worse without help. In most cases, mental health symptoms can be managed with counseling or a combination of counseling and medication management.
We are here to help! Often times asking for help is the hardest step. At Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic, each of our staff members are here to help you through every step in your therapy journey. We offer a safe and inviting environment to help each client feel comfortable during their process of healing.
At Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic we work with our clients to treat a wide range of mental illnesses as well as end of life, relationship, and family issues. Mental Illness refers to mental health conditions and disorders that can affect your mood, thinking, and behavior.Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. These concerns can cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function, causing problems in all areas of your life. Often, behavioral and emotional concerns can cast a shadow on everyday life, creating additional problems that may, in time, get worse without help. In most cases, mental health symptoms can be managed with counseling or a combination of counseling and medication management.
We are here to help! Often times asking for help is the hardest step. At Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic, each of our staff members are here to help you through every step in your therapy journey. We offer a safe and inviting environment to help each client feel comfortable during their process of healing.
