Beginning later this week, St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick will begin providing appointment-only drive-through coronavirus (COVID-19) specimen collection for current and former patients whose physicians are affiliated with Bon Secours Medical Group, Good Samaritan Hospital, St. Anthony Community Hospital and Bon Secours Community Hospital with a verified COVID-19 testing appointment.
According to information posted on the Hospital’s website (www.stanthonycommunityhosp.org), a referral from one of these physicians is mandatory and specimen collection will be conducted only by appointment. Patients who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate illness need to contact their physician’s office to be screened. Current and former patients who meet the current screening criteria will then be given an appointment for drive-through testing.
Visitation
New visitation restrictions are in effect. Patients at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Anthony Community Hospital, will not be allowed visitors. Pediatric patients, and Labor and Delivery patients, will be allowed one designated support person. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances, including those receiving end-of-life care.
Plans for Care
All WMCHealth hospitals and medical practices have long-standing and the most up-to-date protocols in place to respond to infectious diseases. These protocols include, but are not limited to, strict adherence to care guidelines, protective attire and the use of negative-pressure environments to contain airborne pathogens. As an added safety precaution, multilingual signs are present at key hospital entry points asking patients and visitors to share their potential for exposures, such as recent travel, symptoms and local exposure.
If a patient arrives at a WMCHealth member hospital or medical practice with a suspicion of COVID-19 exposure or if key symptoms are present, the patient will be masked and escorted to an isolated and contained area for additional evaluation and care in cooperation with public health agencies, such as the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Testing for COVID-19 is conducted by the DOH, CDC and select centers only. After a thorough examination and in consultation with public health agencies, it would be determined if the patient’s condition warranted hospitalization or release under DOH oversight with strict, DOH-imposed isolation instructions and regular DOH monitoring.
Call the DOH’s coronavirus hotline at 888-364-3065 or visit Health.NY.Gov for additional information and prevention tips.
