Healthcare Leaders Also Encourage Precautions During Labor Day Celebrations
Saying that “Testing has been challenging, not just locally but nationally and internationally,” Dr. A. Patrice Burgess of Saint Alphonsus says the health system has begun deploying new testing equipment and a variety of test types, and now can deliver COVID-19 test results ranging from minutes to 2-3 days.
Burgess, Executive Medical Director, Clinical Integration & Health Informatics and Chair of the SAHS COVID Incident Command Lab Testing Group, said Saint Alphonsus has multiple testing platforms available, utilizing in-house and outside laboratories.
“We have obtained some point-of-care testing, which utilizes an antigen test, which is best used for symptomatic patients,” she said. “We’re starting to use that at Meridian Health Plaza, which is one of our drive-up testing sites, and we will be expanding to other sites.” This test is most effective for patients showing COVID symptoms.
Saint Alphonsus this week acquired the Abbott IDNow Rapid PCR Test, which enhances the in-house testing capabilities with the ability to test both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The turnaround time for this test is as short as 15 minutes.
Up until July, Saint Alphonsus was testing anyone who requested a COVID test. However, in July, demand outpaced laboratory capabilities, and Saint Alphonsus and other healthcare providers in the region shifted to only testing high-risk and symptomatic patients. Lab capacity has improved, and now results are available in 2-3 days from the outside labs.
During today’s Treasure Valley healthcare leaders press conference, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa President Travis Leach pointed to spikes in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following Memorial Day and the 4th of July, suggesting that large gatherings have contributed to spreading the virus.
“Canyon County is one of the hottest spots for COVID spread,” he said. “We anticipate a couple of weeks after Labor Day that we’ll see the same kind of spike if people don’t take precautions,” he said.
“We want people to celebrate and end summer in a great way, but we are pleading with people to be careful. Mask up, keep your distance, especially with those you don’t normally congregate with, stay away from large gatherings, and take good care of yourself, and use good hygiene (washing hands and cleaning surfaces).”