Health Services

Health Services

Health and wellness are important issues at Chemawa Indian School, especially at a residential school such as ours with a community atmosphere. Health and education tend to build upon each other.  

If a student has a health problem, they will be expected to take responsibility for getting evaluated at the Indian Health Services Clinic adjacent to the school. If a student has significant health problems and they are choosing not to take care of them, that student may be medically released from school. All students will be screened upon arrival for medical, dental, vision, hearing, and laboratory tests. Due to residential environment, all students will be required to take the flu vaccine, unless the school receives written refusal by the parent/guardian.

IHS will be available on campus for all students. It is important to note that because Chemawa Indian School is part of the Western Oregon Service Unit, Oregon state laws regarding parental consent, disclosure, and treatment of minors must be followed. Please read the included Indian Health Services Policy regarding the treatment of pediatric patients located in Appendix D of this handbook. (link to appendix D in student handbook)

There is a sickbay for students who are unable to attend classes due to illness or injury. This sickbay is open during school hours with a monitor in contact with the nurse, if necessary. Students report to the sickbay before school to be evaluated for illness and request a pass. The daily sickbay list will be distributed to academic and dormitory staff, and students will be restricted to their dorms for the remainder of that day.

Depending on availability and severity of the problem, the student will be given an appointment to the clinic. Students wishing to schedule non-emergent appointments with the clinic will need to fill out the appointment request form and put it in the box at the sickbay. Students will be then informed when the appointment is made. After normal clinic hours, students may be transported to Salem Hospital for emergencies.

While the clinic is maintained adjacent to the school, it is not a department of Chemawa Indian School. Chemawa administration and staff do not have access to student medical records. To speak to medical personnel or the business office at the Indian Health Services clinic, please call (503) 304-7600.