PowerPoint Presentation
As the incidence of COVID-19 continues to creep up around the country, it wouldn’t be surprising if we see fear of visiting healthcare facilities return among the public. Given that testing for the virus is essential to minimizing its spread, that could spell trouble on the same level as we experienced last spring. Some urgent care centers have taken to establishing temporary testing sites in retail parking lots. Some, like American Family Care in Worcester, MA, are literally taking their testing capabilities on the road. Starting November 1, AFC is sending mobile testing vans out into the community, staffed with clinicians and stocked with rapid testing supplies. The company expects to administer up to 150 tests a day with the vans, while continuing to offer the test at one of its brick-and-mortar locations. The residual benefit is that other locations will continue to focus on general urgent care presentations. That should ease patients’ minds and encourage them to continue seeking care when it’s needed without fear (warranted or not) that they’re increasing their risk of infection.