COVID-19 Guidance

VISITATION AND MASKING GUIDELINES

Effective May 11, 2023, Community Health Center updated its mask policy for all patients, visitors, and staff. Masks will continue to be provided at all CHC locations. Patients, visitors or team members who would like to continue wearing a mask are free to do so at any time.

Please note, there are some instances when wearing a mask is still recommended or required:

  • Recommended: All CHC employees are recommended to wear masks when they are in a clinical setting, providing routine patient care.
  • Required: All patients will be screened at the front desk and if positive for symptoms of an airborne pathogen illness, including fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, shortness of breath, they will be asked to wear a mask. Health care provider caring for the patient should wear a mask.
  • Required: Health care provider should wear a mask if they have symptoms of an airborne pathogen illness, including fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, shortness of breath.
  • Required: When isolation precautions (aka transmission-based precautions) are in place (ex. confirmed or suspected COVID-19, flu, etc.)
  • Required: After exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Required: Health care provider should wear a mask upon request by the patient or the patient’s representative.

*This guidance may change based upon county COVID-19 prevalence.

CHC’s masking guidance may change based on COVID-19 prevalence within its counties. If COVID-19 activity increases in a county, masking requirements may be reinstated for all CHC facilities.

VACCINATIONS

Community Health Center will be offering the updated Covid-19 vaccines in October 2023.

 

If you have questions regarding the vaccine clinics or would like to schedule over the phone please call CHC at (508) 477-7090, then dial 0.

To find another location to receive a vaccine or booster near you, please visit www.vaxfinder.mass.gov. You can also call the Barnstable County COVID-19 Help Line at (774) 330-3001 for more information.

COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for homebound individuals are available through a program being run through the Commonwealth. Individuals can call (833) 983-0485, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. More information on this program can be found here.

Massachusetts residents can access their COVID-19 vaccination record from the state’s immunization registry and obtain a ‘SMART Health Card’ QR code to indicate proof of vaccination. This web portal located at myvaxrecords.mass.gov follows national standards for security and privacy and provides residents a way to electronically view and save their COVID-19 vaccine record.

Community Health Center is here for you for all your medical needs. As a medical home of choice, patients have access to our services, regardless of ability to pay. If you would like to become a patient, please click here or call (508) 477-7090.

TESTING

Community Health Center offers COVID-19 testing by appointment for registered primary care patients, and through our walk-in clinics in Bourne, Centerville and Mashpee to registered patients as well as the community. If you receive primary care locally from another facility, we strongly encourage to contact your own provider about covid-related symptoms or concerns. If you are having difficulty breathing or tightness in your chest, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you have had close contact (within six feet for 15 minutes or longer) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should be tested at least five days after exposure.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (508) 477-7090 and follow the prompts for COVID-19 testing. If you are experiencing symptoms, you will be scheduled for a telemedicine visit prior to your COVID-19 test.

The ordering provider at CHC will determine the appropriate type of COVID-19 test for each patient, and result times range from 20 minutes to three days. Community Health Center will call patients with positive results only. Patients should sign up for MyChart to see their results online.

Alternative locations for safe and affordable COVID-19 testing services can be found here.

TREATMENT

Treatments intended to limit severe illness and hospitalization in high-risk patients are available for COVID-19, including monoclonal antibody infusion and the antiviral medication PAXLOVID. For more information about telehealth visits, free services, treatments and how to access them, please visit mass.gov/info-details/treatments-for-covid-19

If you have any questions, you can call Community Health Center at (508) 477-7090.