Chris Kyer, manager of Network Emergency Disaster Preparedness Kettering Health Network, said 333 tests were conducted Tuesday. Kroger’s capacity to test is about 1,000 per week at each site, Kyer said.
“We were happy to help with the logistical part of the drive-thru testing and for Kroger Health for taking the lead to provide more testing to our community,” Kyer said. “More accessible testing is key to identifying and isolating individuals. As Gov. DeWine has mentioned, testing is key to opening up Ohio.”
MORE: Coronavirus: Testing capacity increase coming to Ohio
Testing at the site continues from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today. Those looking to be tested use a virtual screening tool based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to see if they are eligible. Those who are eligible for the testing are based on CDC, state and local government recommendations. Test results are expected within approximately 48 hours.
The drive-thru testing location has a self-administered nasal swab that must be ordered and observed by a provider. Kroger determined its testing methodology because it increases the number of tests that can be provided while conserving the personal protective equipment utilized, official said.
The drive-thru, on-site testing is supported with laboratory services provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Jennifer Burcham, spokesperson for Warren County’s Atrium Medical Center, said with the restarting of certain elective procedures the hospital has taken steps to ensure an adequate supply of COVID-19 testing, which might be appropriate for patients prior to certain surgeries and procedures.
“All patients will be screened for COVID-19-related symptoms during their pre-admission testing prior to a scheduled surgery or procedure, and again upon arrival on the day of the surgery or procedure,” Burcham told this news outlet. “In addition, we continue to screen visitors and employees for COVID-19-related symptoms.”
MORE: 2 more coronavirus deaths reported in Butler County, including first under 60
Since April 3, Premier Health in conjunction with CompuNet Clinical Laboratories has offered local testing for hospitalized patients for coronavirus.
Atrium is a part of Premier Health, which is still operating its drive-thru coronavirus testing site at UD Arena, 1801 Edwin C. Moses Blvd., a collaboration with the University of Dayton, CompuNet and Fidelity Health Care. It also has expanded hours for IgG antibody testing, which is also located at the UD Arena drive-thru site. It’s the first health system in the region to offer both COVID-19 testing and IgG antibody testing.
Thanks to an $8,000 grant from the Middletown Community Foundation, Atrium Medical Center will be “better equipped” to test for coronavirus, officials said.
Atrium Medical Center is purchasing one IDNOW Molecular Platform Rapid Testing device that will drastically reduce wait time for COVID-19 results. The grant from the MCF will allow Atrium to purchase additional devices to support patients.
Traci Barnett, Middletown Community Foundation executive director, said the request from Atrium for a rapid testing device was one the MCF was “motivated to approve quickly.”
Atrium Medical Center has ordered additional testing devices and hopes to have them in-house and ready to utilize by June.
RELATED: Middletown foundation approves $50K fund to help with coronavirus impact
Mercy Health has established designated flu clinics, including one at 2960 Mack Road in Fairfield, to evaluate and treat members of the community who are experiencing flu-like symptoms, which may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or body aches.
Not everyone who visits will be tested for COVID-19. Limited testing supplies mean that certain groups are prioritized for testing, as per CDC guidelines. These groups include health care workers, elderly patients, patients with compromised immune systems, patients with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, patients who live in group settings.
“We don’t test more broadly due to limited supplies of tests nationally,” said Mercy Health spokesperson Nanette Bentley. “Since we launched the flu clinic, we have offered COVID-19 testing to people who meet the criteria outlined by the CDC.”
UC Health provides COVID-19 testing to all patients admitted to West Chester Hospital and University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and the UC Health Precision Medicine Laboratory processes these specimens in-house, according to spokesperson Amanda Nageleisen.
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The health system also provides drive-through testing by appointment only on the Clifton and West Chester campuses to UC Health patients with scheduled procedures, surgeries, C-sections and inductions; living kidney donors; patients with certain high-risk or complex conditions; some cancer patients; and first responders and healthcare workers.
Christa Hyson, spokesperson for The Health Collaborative, said in Ohio, the best place to start a search for COVID-19 testing is with one’s primary care doctor. Those who don’t have one should call the closest urgent care location. Being screened for symptoms could lead to a doctor writing an order for a test, if deemed necessary.
Staff Writer Rick McCrabb contributed to this report.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Kroger Health drive-through testing site
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today
WHERE: On the campus of Fort Hamilton Hospital, 630 Eaton Ave., Hamilton
DETAILS: Visit www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing to register.
Other sites testing in Butler County include, but are not limited to the following:
UC Health West Chester Hospital: Drive-thru testing for a limited number of UC Health patients, such as expectant mothers with scheduled C-sections or inductions and pre-and post-operative patients. Testing is provided by appointment only for these patient populations.
TriHealth-Liberty Township, 8020 Liberty Way, Liberty Twp.: Requires referral from a TriHealth physician.
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