MILWAUKEE COUNTY — People having trouble getting a test for the coronavirus will soon have more places to do so. By next week new testing sites will be open to patients with a variety of symptoms.
Daryl Kirchen from St. Francis has wanted to get tested for the coronavirus for the past week.
"I think there's a lot of people in their 30s and 40s that will get sick that don't expect it," Kirchen said.
He doesn't have a fever but said he does have a severe cough, pressure in his chest, and shortness of breath. A person at his workplace also tested positive.
However, when Kirchen called both his health care provider and others in the area, he said they wouldn't approve him to be tested.
"Basically said that testing isn't available for my group," Kirchen said.
Right now, coronavirus testing is available at various health care providers, each with their specifications but all requiring a phone or virtual screening ahead of time.
The only drive-thru testing site currently up and running is at Froedtert South's Pleasant Prairie Clinic, with more expected to open in the next week at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee.
Thursday, TMJ4 News also learned Ascension Medical Group would open multiple drive-thru testing spots early next week, including in West Allis, Franklin, and Milwaukee.
Medical Director Dr. Patricia Golden said as they treat more critical patients at their hospitals, they're designating these new drive-thru sites to those with milder symptoms and no fever.
"This is going to be the opportunity for us to do testing in you know more of the general population and help with the epidemiology of understanding this virus," Dr. Golden said.
She said the samples from critical patients are getting sent to the state and city labs for testing. They don't want to overburden those workers and will be sending the samples from the patients with milder symptoms to commercial labs.
By separating patients with different symptoms, Dr. Golden hopes to avoid cross-contamination.
"These are the patients really truly, we want to know that they're positive, but we also want to help recommend the social distancing as well as the quarantining at home while they test positive, and avoid being the spread of this into the general population," Dr. Golden said.
This is precisely what Kirchen hopes to do.
"I think that you know the key to fixing this is figuring out how to treat people earlier," Kirchen said.
Anyone who is an Ascension patient and wants to get tested first has to get screened by a nurse by either calling Ascension's coronavirus hotline at (833) 981-0711 or virtually using Ascension Online Care.
If you're not an Ascension patient, you can also get tested by calling Ascension's coronavirus hotline.
The nurse who screens you will then decide whether testing is warranted and whether you should be hospitalized or get tested at one of the drive-thru sites.
The first Ascension drive-thru testing sites in Southeastern Wisconsin will be located at the following places:
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital's Medical Office Building in Franklin
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Gateway Clinic in West Allis
- Ascension St. Francis Medical Arts Pavilion in Milwaukee
The three locations are expected to open next week. The opening date and times are still in the works.
Later on, Ascension drive-thru testing sites will also be at the following places:
- Ascension Wisconsin Health Center's Urgent Care in Mount Pleasant
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Mayfair Road Urgent Care in Wauwatosa
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Elmbrook Campus in Brookfield