Frederick Health Begins Curbside COVID-19 Testing

It wil begin on Thurs.. March 19th.

 

Starting March 19, 2020 Frederick Health will begin offering testing for COVID-19 via curbside service. Those that meet criteria will be tested for Influenza A and B (Flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID19, to ensure patients receive appropriate follow-up care.

To qualify for testing, patients must meet the following criteria (developed using CDC guidelines):

1. Experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) AND within 14 days of experiencing symptoms:   Had close content with a person confirmed to have COVID-19, or,   Had close contact with a person being tested for COVID-19.

2. Reported fever and cough or shortness of breath, AND:  Recently traveled in the last 14 days, or  Had secondary contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19, or  At high risk due to age or chronic health conditions.

Note that these criteria exclude patients with no symptoms. Testing supplies are limited and cannot accommodate testing for all. Those who do not meet criteria for testing will be given instructions for selfmonitoring and follow-up as appropriate.

Results will be available within 4 days of testing, and patients will be notified of their results by phone. The Maryland Department of Health will be notified of any positive COVID-19 results.

Testing will take place at Frederick Health Toll House, located at 501 W. 7th Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Curbside testing will be offered daily from 9am-3pm. Signage and traffic personnel will be on site to assist with the flow of vehicles and local traffic.

Patients arriving at Frederick Health Hospital’s Emergency Department for COVID-19 testing, who are not experiencing emergency symptoms, will be directed to our curbside service.

Frederick Health is taking all appropriate safety precautions to protect our healthcare team, as well as the community we serve. Curbside testing will be available based on the availability of testing supplies and test kits. If test kits are not available, curbside service will be discontinued.

Virtual care is available to anyone, for free, by visiting FrederickHealth.zipnosis.com. For the latest updates on our response to COVID-19, you can visit FrederickHealth.org.

 

By Frederick Health