COURTESY OF ASCENSION MEDICAL GROUP
TOMAHAWK – Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin is launching its next wave of drive-through testing locations for COVID-19 in northern Wisconsin.
As of Wednesday, April 1, drive-through testing sites are now available at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, located at 401 W. Mohawk Drive in Tomahawk, and Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. Locations in Plover, Rhinelander and Crandon continue to serve residents of north central Wisconsin, with additional sites in development.
Individuals who wish to be tested at drive-through locations must first be pre-screened by an Ascension Medical Group provider by appointment or virtually using Ascension Online Care. This screening involves a series of questions about symptoms, travel history and any potential contact with COVID-19 patients. Patients who meet the criteria, which are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, will schedule an appointment for drive-through testing at the appropriate site.
At the testing site, patients will remain in their vehicle at all times. An Ascension associate will look up the patient’s information in the electronic health record to confirm that they have been screened and require testing. Insurance information will be collected for follow-up purposes, if it’s not already entered into the electronic health record. An Ascension associate will confirm that the patient has an established Ascension provider. There is no upfront charge for the testing.
Nasal swab samples will be collected and sent to a state-approved laboratory for analysis. Patients will be provided this information at the time of testing and instructed to return home and self-isolate for 14 days. Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin will contact patients with results and positive results will be alerted to the Wisconsin Department of Health.
“We continue to collaborate closely with local and state health officials to ensure that community members experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested for the virus, while limiting exposure to keep the health and safety of our patients, associates and visitors as top priority,” said Dr. Stewart Watson, Clinical Vice President of Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin’s North Region. “These additional locations will help expand testing capabilities to the communities we serve.”
According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and may appear two to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Symptoms seen with the infection with COVID-19 are not specific, with cold-like symptoms in mild cases. Symptoms could include a fever, along with cough and shortness of breath.
If someone is elderly or has other medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer, they may get sicker from the virus and develop pneumonia or other lung problems.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov. There also is an Ascension COVID-19 Hotline set up for those who have general questions about COVID-19. The toll-free number for Wisconsin is 1-833-981-0711. Access to COVID-19 online information from Ascension, including an online assessment tool is available at www.healthcare.ascension.org/COVID-19.
Those interested in drive-through testing at these locations should contact their local Ascension Medical Group Clinic for appointment options (Tomahawk, 715-453-7200; Woodruff, 715-356-8140).
Ascension Online Care is available at www.ascension.org/OnlineCare.