Cherry Health Opens Drive - Through COVID-19 Testing Site In GR
Anticipating that individuals in poverty would be among the hardest hit by the COVID - 19 Crisis, Cherry Health began providing testing to some of the most vulnerable, at - risk patients in the community last month. Due to limited resources, testing could not be offered widely without the support from MDHHS as well as contributions from the community.
Cherry Health announced on April 11, 2020 that its drive - through COVID - 19 testing site is now open to the community for individuals who get pre - screened through Cherry Health's COVID - 19 Hotline.
The move is part of a new partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Cherry Health, and 12 other community health centers in the state. The partnership is designed to expand testing capabilities and refer patients to care, helping to relieve overburdened hospitals.
"As the state's largest group of community health centers, Cherry Health is committed to providing all individuals in our community access to the health services, regardless of race, income or insurance status," said Tasha Blackmon, Cherry Health's CEO.
"We are grateful to state leaders and health officials, and the many organizations and individuals who have stepped up to provide these much-needed resources for the courageous warriors fighting this pandemic on the front lines," Blackmon said. "In these unsettling times, it is more important than ever to work together as one community."
People experiencing COVID - 19 related symptoms should call the Cherry Health COVID - 19 Hotline at (616) 965 - 8347 for screening.
There are limits, however. They have to e cleared for testing. If cleared for testing, the triage nurse will provide instructions on how to access the COVID -19 drive - through.
Due to limited supplies, Cherry Health will not able to test individuals who have not been screened through the call center. The Cherry Health COVID -19 Hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
In its ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19, Cherry Health also made the following modifications to its operations to safeguard existing patients and staff:
• Offering a wide range of medical and behavioral health visits via tele - health, as well as urgent in person visits, where indicated.
• Keeping its Heart of the City Health Center Pharmacy open to the community and adding curbside pick-up as well as mailing options for those who cannot pick up prescriptions in person.
• Providing urgent dental services at many of its locations through adjusted hours of operation.
"Our criteria for testing has expanded, so anyone having symptoms of cough, fever, shortness of breath or sore throat, fatigue or diarrhea. Loss of smell or taste are very specific symptoms of Covid-19," Leslie Pelkey Chief Medical Officer at Cherry Health. "So we are looking at a broad range of symptoms and we are accepting any individual regardless if they have medical insurance, are able to, speak English or a Cherry Health patient. Since we announced our testing site, we have had an increased volume of calls but we have the capacity to see even more. Every time someone calls the COVID -19 hot line number, they will be speaking to a nurse who can give them information about COVID -19. If they are experiencing symptoms, then what the nurse will do is to set up scheduled medical provider appointments through tele - medicine, because we really want to keep people safe and at home as much as possible."
She continued, "If the provider determines that testing is needed, then sometimes we can get that patient tested that same day, but sometimes we do have to wait until the following day just because our schedule is booking out a little bit.
"When people arrive, some may arrive by vehicle, but we are also accepting people who don't have a vehicle. They may arrive on by bicycle or on foot. They will check in, enter the tent at which point all of their questions will be answered and then they will have a specimen that will be obtained from and they will leave with a packet of information about isolation and warning signs to watch out for. All patients will be called with results, whether they are positive or negative."
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