PORT ANGELES – Olympic Medical Center will have faster COVID-19 testing ready in the next few days.
OMC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Kennedy, says the lab at the hospital is finishing final calibrations and installation for rapid testing with results back within an hour.
Kennedy, told KONP’s “Todd Ortloff Show”, those test will be used for clearing patients at the hospital and help prepare staff on how to appropriately handle those cases.
“We’ll actually be able to know in the emergency room whether COVID is present or not. It allows us to think about pre- procedural testing. Which means if someone scheduled for a surgery or another procedure very soon, we may be able to test before the procedure and know precisely what type of protective equipment to use in the emergency room. It will help with turnover times and just help with workflow in general and certainly relieve anxiety.”
Kennedy says other COVID-19 test result times are greatly improved. They are now getting those results in about 12 hours.
Health officials recommend anyone experiencing any respiratory symptoms or fever to get tested through their primary provider or at the OMC walk-in clinic.
Meantime, OMC has stepped up masking procedures at the hospital and its clinics. All staff now wear masks. Non-clinical workers are using cloth masks, while those doing procedures with patients are wearing surgical or N95 masks.
All patients heading into an OMC facility are now required to wear a mask as well. Officials say you should bring one if possible, they will provide them as well.