Altru Expands Screening Hotline to All Patients With Upper Respiratory Symptoms, Establishes Walk-in Sick Clinic

Grand Forks, N.D. – In an effort to maintain a safe care environment in our clinics we are asking those with upper respiratory symptoms to call our screening hotline, regardless of travel or known contacts with someone with COVID-19. These symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and nasal congestion. If you do not suspect you have COVID-19 but are experiencing these symptoms, you can also walk into Altru’s Sick Clinic, which will be temporarily located at Altru Family Medicine Residency. The team at this clinic will be following elevated protocols, including the use of PPE during visits, to assist in reducing the spread of potential respiratory illnesses. Details on this clinic are listed below.

Establishing these additional measures will allow us to properly care for our patients with respiratory concerns in a separate environment from other patients. This includes our pediatric patients and those seeking care for other reasons.

Additionally, to reduce traffic to our clinics, we will be evaluating regular appointments on a case-by-case basis and rescheduling those that are not considered time-sensitive. Your provider will be in contact with you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled.

Altru’s Sick Clinic

Location: Altru Family Medicine Residency | 725 Hamline St. Grand Forks, ND 58203

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Care Available

Treatment for upper respiratory symptoms, including:

• Cough
• Fever
• Shortness of Breath
• Sore Throat
• Nasal Congestion

Access: Walk-in or by appointment. Appointments can be made through Altru’s COVID-19 Screening Hotline, 701.780.6358

Patients experiencing severe symptoms should call 911 or visit Altru’s Emergency Room.

About Altru Health System

Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Altru Health System is a physician-led, multispecialty group practice with an acute care hospital, Level II trauma center, specialty hospital, more than two dozen Grand Forks, and regional practice locations, and a large home care network. Altru Health System was the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, extending Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to the patients we serve. For more information, visit altru.org.