Intermountain Healthcare has launched 20 COVID-19 curbside testing sites in Utah. One is in Park City and one is in Heber, which are the two biggest virus hotspots in Utah. They’ve tested over 10,000 people since the middle of March.
IHC Urgent Care Medical Director Anthony Wallin, MD says the testing will help the state epidemiologist identify hotspots, which he says is critical to flattening the curve on the numbers of people who get the virus.
"So, there's two hotspots, maybe three. The first is Summit County. That was probably the first hot spot, and still is. Wasatch County as well, the Heber area, is another hot spot. And then, Salt Lake County is at least a place of focus at this point.”
Intermountain Medical Groups Vice President of Operations, Rebecca Cooper Knowles says the Families First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law on March 18 will cover all costs related to testing.
“Everybody is covered for coronavirus COVID-19 testing and all of the related exam costs as well. So regardless of your insurance status, any copays or in network requirements, have been waived and we are able to offer testing for COVID-19 for all patients and community members who need it regardless of their ability to pay, regardless of their insurance status.”
Wallen says they prefer that patients call the COVID hot line at 844-442-5224 before going to the test site, however, it’s not required.
“We have nurses, many nurses answering those calls and they screen you based on your symptoms and quite a few other questions and determine whether testing should occur. If they decide that testing should occur, then they can send an order into our testing sites so that you can be ready for that test when you pull up.”
If symptoms are mild Cooper Knowles suggests using the symptom checker on the intermountainhealthcare.org website.
“For those who are having more moderate symptoms and they're concerned, they can use a symptom checker if they like or they can just go right ahead to drive through one of our testing sites where they can be assessed with the screening questions and also tested if that's indicated. Our testing is performed by nurses and medical professionals who are skilled and ready to take care of anybody who presents.”
Swabbing is the technique they use to collect the nasal specimen. You can see a demonstration on KPCW.org.
utmb.edu/covid-19/health-care-workers/collection-of-nasopharyngeal-specimens-with-the-swab-technique
10% of those who test positive will end up in the hospital. Wallen says they expect to see increased rates of the illness as they test more people.
“I can tell you that we might see an increased incidence of positive tests as we test more but that shouldn't deter us from testing. We need to go ahead and keep testing so that we can really get a better understanding of how many patients have this in our communities. So, I wouldn't expect that hospital rate to go down presently but our goal will be to get that down, that's part of that social distancing.”
Cooper Knowles says they take careful accounting of Personal Protective Equipment daily, using projections based on models showing increases in community spread.
Intermountain is committed to giving our caregivers the right PPE at the right time. There have been different recommendations coming out from all kinds of professional organizations as well as for the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization and we take all of those recommendations into consideration when we provide PPE for our caregivers.”
Dr. Wallen says IHC would consider helping other areas in dire need of PPE, providing supplies are adequate for Utah’s projected needs.
