St. Joseph Mercy Oakland offers COVID-19 testing center, updates screening near Emergency Department entrance Hospital's Emergency Department continues to safely treat all urgent and emergency medical needs

PONTIAC, Mich. (April 27, 2020) - St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, a member hospital of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, now offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing for patients with a physician prescription. For those without a prescription, the hospital offers screening near the entrance of the Emergency Department, where they can safely be assessed for COVID-19 before entering the hospital to seek medical care and possible testing.

Testing and Screening Services

The COVID-19 testing center at St. Joe's is located at the north entrance of the Alice Gustafson Surgery Center, located on the hospital's main campus. Patients remain in their vehicles during testing to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. The COVID-19 testing center at St. Joe's is offered Monday - Friday, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Test results can be expected in two - three days. Separate from the testing center, St. Joe's offers a COVID-19 screening 24/7 for patients exhibiting symptoms of the virus. Patients screened near the Emergency Department entrance do not need an appointment or a physician prescription. Patients that are screened and suspected of being COVID-19 positive are escorted to a designated location in the Emergency Department where they will receive further medical evaluation. This location is separate from areas where non-COVID patients are treated. Patients participating in a screening can be tested for COVID-19 if they meet the CDC and State of Michigan testing criteria, which includes those who are high risk and present with a fever above 100 degrees AND a cough (lasting less than six weeks), OR shortness of breath. Testing is only done when a patient is symptomatic. Emergency Department Safety Measures Patients that arrive to the Emergency Department with no symptoms of COVID-19, and that require emergency medical care, are directed to a secure area of the department where they can receive medical attention. As an added measure of safety, all Emergency Department nurses, support staff and physicians wear masks to protect themselves and patients. St. Joe's has strict safety measures in place so that its Emergency Department is safe for anyone requiring urgent or emergency care. Members of the community should seek emergency medical care if needed, before their health deteriorates. St. Joe's continues to offer a fully functional Emergency Department with the ability to provide 24/7 care for cardiac issues, trauma, strokes, and other concerns. 

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About St. Joseph Mercy Oakland St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is a 443-bed community teaching hospital and a long-time leader in health care in Oakland County. Founded in 1927 by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland has won numerous local and national awards for patient safety, quality and performance, and consistently ranks in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide. A member of the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is a technologically leading hospital that combines advanced medicine and personal care to assist patients on their path to wellness. With dedicated physicians, nurses and hospital staff committed to providing quality care throughout the patient stay, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland has truly personalized the patient care experience. For more information about health services offered at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, please visit stjoesoakland.org. About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 548-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 497-bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 66-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,548 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $115 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs. Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Trinity Health and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email.