Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19?
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
*List does not include all possible symptoms.
Option 1: A COVID-19 assessment tool is available to the right of this web page.
Option 2: If you are experiencing symptoms and would like to schedule a test, please click here.
Option 3: If your symptoms are severe or you need to speak to a nurse, please call the Nurse Triage Line at 605-755-1350. They are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Testing & Results
Can I get tested if I’m not sick?
Yes. Monument Health offers COVID-19 PCR testing for people who have no symptoms or known exposure but need to be tested for travel, return to work, return to school or return to school activities.
Under federal guidelines, this type of testing is not covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans. The cost is $225. All patients having non-covered COVID-19 testing are expected to pre-pay before services.
If you are traveling out of state, visit the CDC website travel plan page to check the COVID requirements for the state you are traveling to.
Patients can schedule COVID-19 PCR testing through the following options:
- MyChart, self-scheduling
- Calling the Nurse Triage Line at 755-1350
- Directly calling a drive-through clinic site, where a Patient Access Specialist can schedule a lab-only COVID-19 visit
Asymptomatic patients will be required to sign up for MyChart to receive their COVID-19 results. Turnaround times will be 24-48 hours.
COVID-19 testing is covered by insurance when associated with:
- Patients who have COVID-19 symptoms
- Pre-surgical services
- Exposure to a known positive
- Hospital admission, discharge or transfer
- Pregnancy/Antenatal screening
- Required testing for treatment/procedures
Free alternative – at-home testing:
The South Dakota Department of Health offers a free, at-home COVID-19. For more information, visit the Department of Health website.
Where are the testing locations?
- Rapid City Urgent Care on Jackson Boulevard
- Spearfish at the North 10th Street Clinic
- Custer Hospital & Clinic
- Lead-Deadwood Hospital & Clinic
- Sturgis Hospital & Clinic – video directions
- Belle Fourche Clinic
- Buffalo Clinic
- Newcastle Clinic
During your appointment, a caregiver in protective gear will collect a test sample by inserting a swab in your nasal passage. It takes just a couple of minutes.
How many COVID-19 positive inpatients does Monument Health have?
Monument Health COVID-19 facts can be found here.
How are samples processed?
Monument Health Laboratories has its own in-house test processing, and the turnaround time for results is 24 to 48 hours.
How do I get my results?
Test results are sent to the provider who ordered your test or to your Monument Health primary care provider. Patients will also be able to read the results of their COVID-19 test by logging onto their MyChart profile.
- If the test is positive, Monument Health nursing staff will call you. Afterward, we’ll also post the results in your MyChart account.
- If the test is negative, your results will be posted in your MyChart account or sent by mail, depending on your preference. (MyChart is much faster.)
Monument Health MyChart can be accessed online or patients can download the MyChart app via Google Play Store or Apple Store.
For more information on how to use MyChart click here.
What Is the Antibody Test?
— Antibody testing can tell if you’ve ever had COVID-19.
For more than 80 percent of COVID-19 cases, symptoms are mild or nonexistent. There have been questions about whether the virus will even be detected in diagnostic tests of these asymptomatic people. Another test, which detects COVID-19 antibodies, will tell if you have had the disease in the past. If you have the antibody, you could resistant to reinfection.
Offered through Mayo Clinic Laboratories, this new test is used only to detect antibodies to the virus, not to diagnose an active infection.
The only requirement is that the blood must be drawn 10 days or more after the onset of symptoms or known exposure to the virus. If testing is done too early, there’s a risk of a false negative result.
If interested, call the Nurse Triage Line 605-755-1350 or please click here to schedule a test. It requires a small blood sample, which can be drawn at any of the five Monument Health drive-thru testing sites. Mayo Clinic Laboratories usually have results in three to five days. Testing will only be done on individuals within the Monument Health service areas and costs $70.
Other COVID-19 Questions
What is the current Visitor Policy?
An updated visitor policy can be found here.
How can I connect with a loved one in the Hospital?
We encourage you to use digital resources to connect with your loved ones in the hospital and to assist them in their care. Learn more about free resources available to use.
Or send a free, personalized greeting card to a friend or loved one who is currently a patient at a Monument Health hospital here.
What financial services are available to help pay my bills?
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating many challenges, and we understand your ability to pay bills may be affected. Our Patient Financial Advocates can help develop plans to ease your financial hardship and the stress you’re experiencing during this time. Learn more here.
What are telemedicine appointments and how do they work?
To help keep patients with health care needs at home, Monument Health has launched telemedicine appointments in our primary care, specialty clinics and therapy services. Learn more here.
How can I protect myself and others?
Three Important Ways to Slow the Spread
- Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you.
- Avoid crowds. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.
What is the difference between Quarantine and Isolation?
How can I help support Monument Health's COVID-19 Response?
Monument Health is working tirelessly to maintain the safety of our patients, employees and communities as the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve in our area. Similarly, businesses and community members across the region have already stepped up and answered the call to provide much-needed supplies and support to our caregivers. Still, others are asking what more they can do to help.
All of your generous donations will stay local and support Monument Health hospitals and clinics.
