Providence now testing essential workers with COVID-19 symptoms at Lacey drive-thru clinic
Providence Medical Group has added essential workers with COVID-19 symptoms to its list of people who can be tested at its drive-thru clinic in Lacey, it announced Thursday.
Essential workers include those who work at grocery stores, as truck drivers, in food service, and in other occupations that require work outside the home during the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the group said in its announcement.
The clinic opened about three weeks ago, and the number of people tested per day at the site peaked March 23, when 243 tests were collected, Providence spokesperson Chris Thomas told The Olympian. Since then, the clinic has seen progressively fewer people, with 50-60 showing up on recent days.
The hotline monitored by Providence caregivers for people who have questions about testing or want to be tested (360-486-6800) has also seen a significant decrease in phone calls per day, Thomas said.
So, the medical group decided to expand its population of people eligible to be tested.
“We want to test as many as possible, but need to make sure we have the supplies to do it,” Thomas said.
Since the drive-thru clinic started testing, Thomas says about 75-80% of people who’ve visited have been tested. And turn-around time for results has improved: It was initially five days when the clinic opened, according to The Olympian’s previous reporting. Now, Thomas says, results come back within about 48 hours.
Who can get tested at the Providence drive-thru
According to Providence, its testing people who have a fever and new cough or congestion who are:
- essential workers,
- older adults,
- taking medications that compromise one’s immune system,
- pregnant or breastfeeding, or
- health care workers or first responders (with ID).
As well as people with a fever and new cough or congestion who have:
- asthma,
- COPD or other chronic lung disease,
- congestive heart failure,
- diabetes, or
- other conditions that compromise one’s immune system.
Providence is asking for health insurance, but if the patient doesn’t have health insurance, they will not be turned away, according to Thomas. The clinic will see people who travel from anywhere, not just Thurston County residents or Providence patients.
Because the clinic isn’t exceeding its current capacity, a second site in Thurston County isn’t currently necessary, Thomas said, but talks are still in the works with partners in Lewis County to see if there’s a need there. In the meantime, Thomas encouraged Lewis County residents who meet these criteria to call the hotline and visit if they need a test.
How to get tested at the Providence drive-thru
People wishing to get tested should call the clinic hotline at 360-486-6800 during drive-thru operation hours. Thomas said a caregiver will talk through each person’s unique situation to determine whether testing is needed.
The drive-thru clinic is located in the parking lot at Providence Medical Group in Hawks Prairie, at 2555 Marvin Road NE, Lacey and is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday (except Easter Sunday, April 12, when the drive-thru clinic will be closed).
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