Allegheny Health Network Opening 4 Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Sites
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health say they are opening four drive-thru Coronavirus testing sites in Western Pennsylvania.
The first site, in the parking garage adjacent to AHN's Wexford Health and Wellness Pavilion, is opening today.
The three other sites in Monroeville, Bethel Park and Erie will be up and running within a week, AHN officials say.
"Patients who are directed to one of the collection sites will remain in vehicles during duration of collection process... to minimize congregation and waiting in lines and waiting rooms and decrease potential spread of COVID-19," Dr. Thomas Walsh, of AHN, said.
Here is the full information for the sites:
• AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, 12311 Perry Highway, Wexford, PA 15090
• AHN Bethel Park Health + Wellness Pavilion, 1010 Higbee Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102
• 4220 William Penn Highway, Monroeville, PA 15146
• AHN West Side Health + Wellness Pavilion, 4247 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506
According to Allegheny Health Network officials, only patients who have been previously evaluated by an AHN-affiliated health care provider for coronavirus symptoms and who have a prescription will be tested at the drive-thrus. On-demand and walk-up testing is not available at these locations.
"The reason why we want evaluation done by clinician and it comes with a prescription is to make sure folks aren't coming in with self diagnosis and getting screened using up testing that should go to people who need to be tested. That's our strategy now and as rest may become available that may change," Dr. Brian Parker, of Allegheny Health Network, said.
Highmark Health CEO David Holmberg said in a news release:
"At a challenging time like this, it is more important than ever that health care institutions come together and mobilize every resource possible to help their communities.It is our hope that by establishing multiple collection sites for COVID-19 testing across the region, we will enable more people to access the care they need close to home and minimize the burden of having to travel to a centralized location in the city."
The first drive-thru testing site in Pittsburgh opened earlier this week on the North Shore.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
