With testing appointments booked, how can Iowans get COVID-19 tests?
As the outbreak continues to spread in the state, some Iowans said they're having trouble finding places to get tested because they might not qualify and TestIowa sites are booked.
Broadlawns Urgent Care is serving as a walk-in testing site. Like other Des Moines metro health care provider test sites, testing here isn't free. They've seen an increase in testing over the last few weeks showing their presence is a necessity.
Dr. Nicole Gilg Gachiani, the chief physician quality officer, said they're testing anyone with symptoms and anyone who had been contacted by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Broadlawns' three urgent clinics are testing people who said they've been exposed to the coronavirus.
"We often encourage patients if they're having symptoms to call from the parking lot, so that we can make sure we're directing them back into a room as soon as possible," Gilg Gachiani said.
Despite Iowa's rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Gilg Gachiani said Broadlawns has an ample supply of testing. Which is good since they're testing a lot more than the 40 to 50 tests per day back in June.
"And over the last week we are testing closer to 200 people a day," Gilg Gachiani said.
MercyOne reports an increase in COVID-19 testing too.
"I would guess we are testing 600 a day," said Dr. Tim McCoy, a family medicine physician.
And that's just in six urgent care locations. But because of an increase in demand for testing, McCoy said it's best if people make an appointment.
"We're recommending you call your primary care provider," McCoy said. "If you don't have one, we can call that access to health line and they could hook you up with a clinic that's closest to your location."
The Centralized Access to Health's phone number is 515-243-2584.
A newly established testing site on University Avenue provides outpatient testing for procedures and employee testing. But McCoy said MercyOne is working on changing that in the future so people can show up and get tested.
vlog contacted UnityPoint Health and the Iowa Clinic. UnityPoint Health said an order from one of their healthcare providers is required to get tested.
The Iowa Clinic released the following statement: “We have more tests than ever before, but the positivity rate continues to climb which puts the testing supply at risk. This is why it’s important to limit the spread by wearing masks and not gathering with people outside your immediate family. This is critical with Thanksgiving fast approaching.”
