[COLUMBIA, S.C., April 14, 2020] — Doctors Care urgent care, based in Columbia, S.C., has completed its third week of successfully screening patients for COVID-19, and has expanded its program to begin testing first responders and employees of the City of Columbia. City employees and patients from around the state are going through the Midlands-based, drive-through testing site by appointment only. Doctors Care providers based at any of the 54 statewide centers, as well as those evaluating patients on the Doctors Care Anywhere virtual urgent care app, are able to refer patients directly to the testing site.
“We’ve taken a methodical and guidelines-based approach to setting up and operating our drive-through testing site in the Midlands,” said Dr. Curtis Franke, president of Doctors Care. “Our primary concern is testing first responders and patients with symptoms. Quickly identifying and isolating confirmed COVID-19 cases is one of the best defenses for our state during this unprecedented time.”
All patients are screened by Doctors Care providers to ensure they meet the recommended criteria for testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Patients are not required to be existing patients of Doctors Care, but must be screened by a Doctors Care provider using its virtual urgent care app. Per CDC and SCDHEC guidance, testing is not offered at this time without a testing referral from a licensed provider. This ensures limited testing supplies are being reserved for the most essential workforce members like first responders and healthcare professionals.
The Doctors Care drive-through testing site is currently open six days a week, and has completed testing for hundreds of patients to date. Doctors Care is exploring additional testing sites around the state to complement its footprint and serve areas where there is a critical need. As faster testing options become available, Doctors Care plans to offer additional services to residents across the state. With its vast network of urgent care centers and robust virtual urgent care app, the company is well-positioned to scale up its COVID-19 testing operations as rapid tests become available.
Individuals with possible COVID-19 symptoms interested in receiving a test should initiate a virtual care visit using Doctors Care Anywhere (www.DoctorsCare.com/Anywhere) from their computer, tablet or smart phone. Doctors Care Anywhere is available seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Individuals age 5 and older may receive treatment through the app. This service complements Doctors Care in-person operations around the state which are still open and treating patients for a host of common conditions like allergies and injuries.
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About Doctors Care, P.A.
Doctors Care urgent care is a leading health care organization focused on delivering exceptional and convenient urgent care, family care and occupational health services. Its original center, opened in Columbia in 1981, was the first urgent care center in South Carolina. Now, Doctors Care is one of the largest urgent care companies in the United States, with more than 1,000 employees. Its network of 54 urgent care locations continues to expand to serve patients with quality medical care that is both convenient and affordable. All Doctors Care centers offer online check-in, real-time patient volumes, onsite dispensing, flexible hours, onsite X-ray and laboratory, telehealth services and more. Visit DoctorsCare.com to learn more.
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