As of April 20, UPMC Pinnacle has begun directing patients who received a physician consultation and referral for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to an outpatient specimen collection site located at 325 S. Belmont St., York.
UPMC's specimen collection is not open to the public, and walk-in patients will not be tested. If testing is sought, the patient must be evaluated by his or her care provider, who then must assess the need and contact the UPMC Pinnacle infection prevention team. That team will review the key information and if testing is deemed needed, an appointment will be scheduled to have the patient's specimen collected. Patients will receive a call with their scheduled appointment information and should self-isolate until that appointment.
Trained UPMC staff will collect specimens, doing so in personal protective equipment that follows all CDC guidelines. The process involves a nasopharyngeal swab, a thin device inserted through a patient's nose into the nasal cavity.
The specimens will be safely transported to a commercial laboratory. Results will be returned within one to seven days. Anyone whose sample is taken should self-isolate until results have returned. If a COVID-19 test returns positive, UPMC will refer the patient to public health authorities and ensure ongoing care.
Persons who suspect that they have COVID-19 but do not have a high fever or breathing problems should call their primary care physician or use their provider's virtual visit options to get advice.
Individuals who do not have a primary care provider can call the UPMC Pinnacle nurse advice team at 866-968-7731 or 717-988-0074. More information about online video visits is available at http://www.UPMCPinnacle.com/VideoVisit.
Anyone with a high fever or more prominent breathing trouble should go to his or her local emergency department for evaluation and care. The patient is advised to call ahead so staff can plan for his or her arrival. For current information about COVID-19, readers may visit http://www.UPMCPinnacle.com/COVID19.
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