PHC COVID-19 Updates

Primary Health Care is committed to the health and safety of our staff, patients and community during the pandemic.

Learn more about COVID-19 (coronavirus) and what national and state experts recommend here:

Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus Iowa

PHC clinics are open and our providers are seeing patients. An alternative to coming into the clinic is to schedule a Virtual Visit. It’s easier than you think and will allow you to speak to your healthcare provider without leaving the safety of your own home.

If you have general questions about COVID-19, we encourage you to call your home PHC location. If you are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a person that has tested positive for COVID-19, we recommend scheduling a Virtual Visit with your healthcare provider. If you need to get tested for COVID-19, please call a PHC clinic nearest you to schedule an appointment. We ask that if you are experiencing these symptoms that you do not come into a PHC clinic without calling first.

PHC has infection control procedures in place to ensure a safe visit for our patients and employees. Safety precautions we have implemented include:

Our Safety Precautions

Providing a mask to patients who report fever, cough, or shortness of breath. – Please call ahead if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Exercising “social distancing” in our patient waiting areas or allowing patients to wait in their cars.
Patients should not bring additional people to their appointments unless absolutely necessary.
Vendors, visitors, observers, and other non-essential individuals are not granted access to PHC clinics at this time.
It is required for all staff to take their temperature at the beginning of their shift. If the employee has a fever, they are sent home. Staff who are not feeling well are asked to stay home.
PHC employees practice hand hygiene and wear personal protective equipment when appropriate.
Our facilities team maintains a robust sanitation routine to ensure our patient and staff areas are clean and follow infection control guidelines.

We are privileged to serve you and will continue to provide the highest level of quality care and communication around COVID-19. If you’re looking for additional resources, please make sure that you are getting your information from a reputable source. We recommend starting here:

Thank you for being a PHC patient.

Your In-Person Appointment

Your health and well-being is our top priority. We have updated our safety procedures to ensure your safety during your in-person appointment.

What’s New

Our new schedule limits the number of people in the waiting room at one time to help with social distancing.
Your dental and medical team will wear the necessary protective gear during your appointment.
Your temperature will be taken when you arrive and will be asked to use hand sanitizer.
A mask is required the entire time you are in our clinics. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you when you arrive.

Click here to learn more about our updated Safety Precautions.

Screening Questions

Have you been diagnosed with COVID in the last 14 days?
In the past 2 days, have you had any of these symptoms?
- Fever (or current temperature greater than 100 at door check)
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Flu-like symptoms
- Unexplained loss of taste or smell
- Other symptoms is concerned with as COVID

Vaccine information

All patients and community members are invited to register below for a Covid-19 vaccine. You do not have to be a PHC patient to receive it. All vaccines (Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna) are approved for people 18 years and older. Children 12 years and older are approved to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

In order to see our daily lives return to normal – resume the activities we enjoy, spend time with the ones we love, and to keep our community healthy – we encourage all who are eligible to get the vaccine.

(Updated September 1, 2021) In Polk County, PHC provides COVID-19 vaccine to all who are eligible at our Community Outreach Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic (see schedule below), and at our South Side Vaccine Clinic located at 2404 SE 14th Street (next to our B. Engebretsen Medical/Dental clinics) on Wednesdays 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM and Thursdays 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Community Outreach Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic

Tuesday, September 17
- 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Des Moines Catholic Worker
Tuesday, September 21
- 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Franklin Library

Look for the PHC Mobile Health Unit in a neighborhood near you. All are welcome (who meet eligibility requirements) to receive the vaccine, based on inventory and availability.

Follow us on social media to find the day’s location. #PHCmobile.
Twitter: @phciowa
Facebook: @primaryhealthcareiowa

Latest Updates

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Jan 22, 2021

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will be one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from the virus

COVID-19 Dental Updates

Jun 24, 2020

Good news! Our dental clinics are now accepting appointments. Here are some changes we’ve made to ensure your safety.

Virtual Visits at PHC

Mar 27, 2020

Primary Health Care is now offering some of our patients the option to do virtual visits with their health care providers instead of coming into the clinic.

Advocate for Community Health Centers

Mar 20, 2020

Community health centers like Primary Health Care play a critical role in the healthcare system, particularly as we face this public health emergency. Without community health centers, the hospital system would be overwhelmed, putting an even larger life-threatening strain on the healthcare system.

COVID-19 Update for HIV/STD Prevention Testing and PrEP from the Project of Primary Health Care

Mar 18, 2020

Following the guidelines of the Iowa Department of Public Health, HIV/STD Prevention services at The Project of Primary Health Care will be modified.

A letter to our patients – COVID-19

Mar 17, 2020

We take the health of our patients and staff seriously. Read on for more information about what we are doing at PHC to treat and prevent the spread of COVID-19.