Bozeman Health announced Thursday that in partnership with Montana State University (MSU) it is now offering COVID-19 testing for Bozeman Health employees, members of the medical staff, and community first responders.
According to a press release, MSU has temporarily loaned its PCR analyzer to the Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital lab to perform the testing.
Any person who receives a paycheck from Bozeman Health or works at one of its locations in Belgrade, Big Sky, or Bozeman as a credentialed medical provider or advanced practice clinician is eligible for testing, the release said.
Eligible first responders are any employees or volunteers of American Medical Response, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department, Bozeman City Police, Belgrade City Police, Manhattan City Police, Three Forks City Police, and any fire department within Gallatin County including Big Sky Fire Department, Bozeman Fire Department, Hyalite Rural Fire District, and Central Valley Fire District.
Further testing information provided by Bozeman Health is below:
If a Bozeman Health employee or member of the medical staff feels they need to be tested for COVID-19 related to a high-risk exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual and/or due to respiratory symptoms, the employee or member of the medical staff is directed to contact Bozeman Health Employee Health.
Community first responders with COVID-19 concerns are encouraged to contact the Bozeman Health COVID-19 Hotline at 406-414-2619 or present at a Viral Triage Clinic (VTC). VTC’s are located at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, Belgrade Clinic + UrgentCare, and Big Sky Medical Center. Local Montana Highway Patrol and Life Flight will be considered on a case-by-case basis and can still have specimens collected through Bozeman Health care sites and sent to the state lab for processing.
MSU is conducting a research study designed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infections in the community. Bozeman Health employees, members of the medical staff, and community first responders seeking to be tested will be provided with a Research Consent form to sign or asked to give verbal consent for a small sample of their specimen to be included in the study. Samples will be sent to MSU without any personal identifiers. Consent to the research study is not required for testing.