topic Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia in Community Spirit

First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:02:46 GMT

A 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing clinic has opened in South Australia, in what is believed to be a first for the country's public health system.

The clinic is expected to receive a patient every 20-minutes once fully operational.

Patients in need of a test will require a referral from their GP before they can attend the drive-thru, which has been set up at the former Repatriation Hospital site in Adelaide's inner-southern suburbs.

SA Pathology's clinical service director, Dr Tom Dodd, said the service had been designed as another way for health professionals to collect samples from those potentially affected by the virus, and was not meant to replace any clinical services.

So this service is really specifically for patients who have already seen a GP and not for people to have a clinical assessment," Dr Dodd said.

"This is a pathology collection point only at this stage and we will be making it very clear to GPs that they'll need to see the patients first and then refer the patients onto here after they've organised a collection time, and provided us with a request form."

Dr Dodd believed the testing station was "a national first … on a state [managed] basis".

"We believe it will be very effective in supporting isolation and barriers for patients with … COVID-19," he said.

"Patients will just literally be able to drive through this side of the repat [hospital], wind their window down and the specimens will be collected directly out of the car window by SA Pathology nurses [who] will be wearing personal protective equipment.

"It presents no risk at all for anyone working on the site and will support isolation of those patients until the results of their tests are known."

More drive-thru clinics could be set up around Adelaide if the southern clinic is successful.

The clinic will operate for between eight and nine hours each day from tomorrow, but Dr Dodd said those hours would be increased if demand grows.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/first-drive-thru-coronavirus-testing-station-opens-in-south-australia/ar-BB10YcZO?ocid=spartanntp

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:40:00 GMT

Supply a specimen of what ?

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:48:38 GMT

Googling shows they take either blood or mucus for testing.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

davidc4430 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:59:51 GMT

can you get fries with your test?

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 05:01:42 GMT

I certainly hope not.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 05:06:15 GMT

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 05:08:39 GMT

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

rogevibe — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 05:17:30 GMT

Going to get to the stage where workers with any direct or indirect public contact ie cooks , prostitutes , social workers , the unemployed ( look good on the cv) etc will be obligated to be certified covid-19 free.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

davidc4430 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 05:44:38 GMT

sorry, i sneezed before getting to the test drive thru

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

bright.ton42 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:15:40 GMT

So a referral from your GP is required but my understanding is that many GPs won't see you in the first place (not that I can blame 'em)

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

twyngwyn — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:42:11 GMT

Good idea....I have to go to the doctors next month for a script.....will be waiting outside....they can come & get me. Waiting room is small & crowded....not worth the risk.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:01:12 GMT

I need repeat scripts.

Means seeing the doc in the next week or so.

Very large waiting room, usually chockers full of people waiting for about 15 or so doctors.

I'll have to find an empty corner, at least 6 feet away from anybody.

Not looking forward to it.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:15:16 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
I need repeat scripts.

Means seeing the doc in the next week or so.

Very large waiting room, usually chockers full of people waiting for about 15 or so doctors.

I'll have to find an empty corner, at least 6 feet away from anybody.

Not looking forward to it.

Ring 'em before hand 'n ask how late the dr is running

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

twyngwyn — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:15:53 GMT

can you not order ahead of time (and just pick up)....or do you have to SEE the doctor?

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:22:46 GMT

@twyngwyn wrote:
can you not order ahead of time (and just pick up)....or do you have to SEE the doctor?

My local dr, wont write script without a consultation

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:25:27 GMT

@twyngwyn wrote:
can you not order ahead of time (and just pick up)....or do you have to SEE the doctor?

No doctor will write a script, even a repeat without seeing the patient.

Part of the Medicare deal, and... they want their money.

They don't work for nothing.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

twyngwyn — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:27:03 GMT

ours do (if previous bloodwork is ok)

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

lyhargr_0 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:36:49 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
@twyngwyn wrote:
can you not order ahead of time (and just pick up)....or do you have to SEE the doctor?
No doctor will write a script, even a repeat without seeing the patient.

Part of the Medicare deal, and... they want their money.

They don't work for nothing.

Some do, some dont ......

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

domino-710 — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:41:15 GMT

I text.

He leaves the script at the desk.

Given - it's just a repeat.

Re: First 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing station opens South Australia

imastawka — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 08:04:28 GMT

@domino-710 wrote:
I text.

He leaves the script at the desk.

Given - it's just a repeat.

And the fact that the doc's a friend who lives down the stteet.