AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

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This is an important message regarding Seneca Nation Health System operations in response to COVID-19.

The Pharmacy will be opening for normal hours of operation, 7:30AM to 6:00PM on Monday March 23rd. The easiest ways to request refills are using the Smartphone app called Refill Pro or calling the health center pharmacy to use the IVR system to enter your prescription numbers. When you are getting your order ready, be sure to check for any medications that can be refilled up to 14 days early to reduce the number of trips to the Pharmacy. The pharmacy is receiving a lot of incoming calls, so please be patient if you need to speak to someone. For your convenience the pharmacy staff can sign you up to receive text message alerts when your prescriptions are ready for pickup. Curb-side delivery of medications is available and recommended for elders, those who are sick, or high-risk individuals. More thorough instructions and additional information is located on the Pharmacy page at senecahealth.org

Medical, Dental, and Optical are re-scheduling routine appointments on a case-by-case basis taking into account the health and needs of each patient. Health System departments are accepting appointments only, walk ins will not be allowed into the buildings. Please call upon arrival for letters, referrals, or pick ups from Patient Registration or the information desk, patients will receive delivery to their car. Any department or service not previously mentioned are available via phone. For Lionel R John Health center call 945-5894, for the Cattaraugus Health Center call 532-5582, and for the Cattaraugus Community Health and Wellness Center call 532-8223.

Nya:weh Health System patients and staff for your cooperation and flexibility as we navigate changes to Health System operations.

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ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation announced today that the Seneca Nation Health System will reopen for patient services on Monday, March 23, following a temporary closure.

After a non-Seneca employee of the Health System tested positive for the COVID-19 virus last week, the Nation closed The Lionel R. John Health Center in Salamanca, and the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Health Center and the Community Health and Wellness Center in Irving in order to complete a deep cleaning of each site. No other Health System employees have displayed any symptoms to date.

All three health facilities will reopen to patients at 7:30 a.m. Monday and will operate under normal hours.

“Many of our residents depend on our health centers for essential services so restoring the operations was a priority in maintaining the quality of life on our territories,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “Our health system leadership, the members of our COVID-19 Task Force and several Nation departments mobilized quickly to thoroughly clean and inspect each facility to ensure minimal interruption of services.”

Upon re-opening and for the foreseeable future, the Seneca Nation Health System will resume heightened control measures at all three facilities. Each facility will operate from a single point of entry, and all employees and visitors will be temperature screened upon entering. In addition, all patients are asked to call their respective facility before arrival to confirm appointments and services, as some routine appointments may be rescheduled to control capacity. All group meetings and activities, as well as exercise appointments, are cancelled until further notice.

“We are taking every reasonable precaution to protect our residents and our workers,” President Armstrong said. “The measures we have in place will ensure the safe delivery of important services while staying vigilant in our ongoing prevention and response efforts.”

“I am incredibly proud of how our Nation personnel and community continue to respond on behalf of the Seneca people during these unique circumstances,” he added.

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This is an important message from the Seneca Nation Health System regarding our operations in response to COVID-19.

To begin- we would like to thank all Health System patients and staff for their cooperation and flexibility as we navigate challenges in Health System operations.

Since early March many of us have been continuously preparing, planning, and adjusting our response to COVID-19. As we have encountered our first confirmed case in the area, we have made an unprecedented decision to close the Health System on Thursday 3/19 and Friday 3/20 in order to perform a deep clean of all of our facilities, as well as to make sure our staff is prepared for the upcoming weeks.

We will make every effort to keep you updated as we develop a plan to move forward. To all of our dedicated staff: your continued devotion to the Seneca community is appreciated, thank you for all you do.

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ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation announced that a non-Seneca employee of the Seneca Nation Health System has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The individual is a resident of Erie County who had limited patient contact at the Health System and last reported to work on Thursday, March 12. The employee showed no symptoms at that time, but began to feel ill later that evening. The individual has not returned to Seneca territory since that time. No other workers at the Health System have shown any symptoms to date.

“Last night, we were notified that an employee of our Health System has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of COVID-19,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “That individual showed excellent judgment in remaining away from the Health System and away from Seneca territory upon feeling ill, and our thoughts are with them. We will work cooperatively with Erie County health officials to provide any information we can, in order to assist all necessary response and notification measures.”

As of today, the Nation has closed the Allegany Health Center, the Cattaraugus Health Center, and the Cattaraugus Wellness Center, and will conduct deep cleaning procedures at each facility. Workers entering the buildings will continue to be temperature screened, as all visitors have been for the past several days. The Nation will seek guidance of health officials pertaining to the re-opening of the Health System facilities. Individuals in need of services should call their primary care provider.

In keeping with the Nation’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which the Nation has implemented over the past several days, President Armstrong has officially issued a State of Emergency on Seneca Nation Territories. The order will allow the Nation to access additional federal funding sources to aid in its response efforts.

“Protecting the health and welfare of our people, especially our elders and our vulnerable populations, remains our highest priority,” President Armstrong said. “A task force of professionals from across Seneca Nation government continues working tirelessly to implement wide-ranging prevention and response efforts on our territories. Together, we will continue to aggressively monitor the situation on our territories and within our surrounding communities to take every responsible precaution to safeguard the Seneca people.”

In addition to the measures announced today, President Armstrong has previously instituted travel restrictions for all Nation officials and employees, issued work-from-home and stand-by leave orders for Nation employees, adjusted the delivery of many on-territory services, canceled public activities, closed Nation facilities, and restricted outside visitation to the Nation’s territories.

“I have said before that this unprecedented situation requires an unprecedented response, and that’s what we are seeing,” President Armstrong added. “The Seneca people can rest assured that every thoughtful decision is being made with our community in mind. We will get through this together.”

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ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – In the ongoing response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic locally, statewide and across the country, the Seneca Nation Council, in consultation with the Seneca Gaming Corporation and Seneca Gaming & Entertainment, has decided to suspend operations at all of the Nation’s gaming facilities, effective at 8 p.m. today. The directive applies to the Nation’s three casino resort properties in Niagara Falls, Salamanca, and Buffalo, as well as the Seneca Gaming & Entertainment operations in Irving, Salamanca, and Cuba.

“The COVID-19 outbreak is an unprecedented public safety situation that requires an unprecedented response,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “Given the number of people who visit and work at our facilities, I believe it is in the best interest to suspend our gaming operations until further notice. We are keeping the health and safety of our workers, our guests and our communities above all else.”

In addition to the temporary suspension of its gaming operations, President Armstrong announced various temporary closures of on-territory facilities and changes to identified services, effective immediately. Essential services, such as the elders’ meal program, health services and emergency services will continue, but may be adjusted to reduce unnecessary contact.

“Our sole focus, as a Nation, is to do everything practicable to ensure the health and safety of every Seneca Nation member to the best of our ability,” said President Armstrong said. “We will do whatever possible and responsible to ensure that our people, particularly our elders, continue to receive the services they need. That is our commitment. The measures going into effect today, while significant, are, in our determination, necessary and appropriate to safeguard the health and welfare of our people and our territories with as little disruption to our people, including our Nation employees, and the quality of life on our territories as we can control.”

“As a unified Seneca community, it is incumbent upon each of us to adjust to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and to do everything we can to keep ourselves, our families and our territories safe while the full public response to this situation plays out,” President Armstrong added. “As we continue to work together, I am confident that the Seneca Nation, our people, and our territories will withstand this unprecedented public health event as strongly and effectively as possible.”