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Bullhook grand opening next Friday

As the culmination of its celebration of National Health Center Week, Havre's newest health care facility is holding a grand opening celebration next Friday with a U.S. senator as the keynote speaker, a catered barbecue and tours of the state-of-the-art facility, including its new telemedicine facility.

"At Bullhook Community Health Center, we are thankful for the community support that has allowed us to make quality health care accessible to all members of our community, regardless of income or insurance status," Cindy Smith, CEO of Bullhook said in a press release. "We are pleased to be able to offer discounts on selected services during National Health Center Week and host a community celebration as our way to say thank you to all those who have supported us."

The events are set to start with a tribal blessing and pipe ceremony at 8:30 a.m., followed by an introduction and welcome at 9:30 a.m.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 497 is scheduled to post the colors. The center's board of directors will be introduced and the chair will make comments about the opening of the new facility, along with CEO Cindy Smith also making comments.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., - who Wednesday announced a Bullhook was awarded a two-year $250,000 grant through the Affordable Care Act to expand its mental health services - is the keynote speaker, and Paul Tuss of Bear Paw Development Corp. is scheduled to make some comments as well.

The next event slated is dedication of two rooms in the center, one to long-time Bullhook supporter Tillie Patterson and the other to Tester.

The event will culminate with the ribbon cutting, followed by the barbecue catered by Wolfer's Diner with cake from Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods.

Tours of the facility will be given from noon to 3:30 p.m., showing the new offices and work space, which bring all of the center's staff into one, central location and uses the "patient-centered medical home" model. That model uses collaboration and cooperation between all of a patient's health care providers to improve the care the patient receives, rather than going to separate providers and specialists separately with little to no coordination.

The tours also will feature Bullhook's new telemedicine facilities, which allow doctors to treat patients of Bullhook from other locations.

Desiree Norden of Bullhook Community Health Center said the new telemedicine facilities include two mobile computers, one to use for general health and the other for mental health. Norden said if available, the health care providers who will use the system may be available through the media connection, but Bullhook nurses will be at the stations to demonstrate how it will work. That includes equipment that allows the doctors to monitor the heartbeat and check the ears of patients via the Internet.

The celebration actually starts at the beginning of next week, with special rates offered for both laboratory blood work and sports physicals for students.

Sports physicals will cost $25 at the time of service, while lab tests for comprehensive medical panel, lipid panel and blood sugar tests will be available to new and established patients for $50 at the time of service. Patients must fast before the labs.

 

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