A drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Center will open at York Hospital’s York Walk-In Care location on June 1. With hours from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the months of June and July, this project is a collaboration between York Hospital and the Town of York. While previous plans located the testing site at York High School, further assessment of both safety and logistical efficiencies by the Hospital and York Police Department resulted in the decision to shift the service to the hospital’s York Walk-In Care, 343 US Route One in York.
All patients must call to pre-register at 207-351-2000 and have a signed provider’s referral in order to be tested. However, patients arriving without this documentation, who are symptomatic, or in a caregiver role for someone at risk or compromised, will be evaluated by Walk-In providers, and if appropriate, given the necessary paperwork.
Erich Fogg, PA-C,director of Walk-In Care, and Amber Harrison, health officer for the town, shared that two primary reasons for coordinating this collaborative drive-thru project are a “spike” in people who are hesitating to go to the hospital until they are very sick, due to COVID-19 concerns, and an expected uptick in visitors as the summer season progresses. “We are excited to offer this drive-thru testing location in partnership with the Town of York. We believe it will greatly support the state’s goal of expanded testing, so we can quickly identify cases, isolate, and contact all exposed in an effort to battle COVID-19,” offered Fogg.
The collaborative effort goes beyond the Town of York and York Hospital. Amber Harrison has been working closely with the York Police & Fire Departments for logistics and traffic assistance. In addition, York County CDC Liaison Adam Hartwig and York County EMA Director Art Cleaves have been instrumental in securing both the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the many volunteers needed to staff the testing center, beyond that of York Hospital. Volunteers will be joining from University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Harris School of Business in Sanford and University of Maine’s Nursing School graduates. Additionally, Holly Roberts, Executive Director of The York Region Chamber of Commerce, along with Executive Director Michele Surdoval of York Community Service Association, have been busy reaching out to area businesses to provide lunch for all volunteers.
Amber Harrison added, “Offering the drive-thru testing at this time is crucial in continuing to help flatten the curve, as we begin to open our public spaces again in York and all of Maine.”
Volunteers are needed to assist with traffic control and registration. If interested, please visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054DAEA72AA4F85-york.
Please note that York Walk-In Care remains open and available to our patients as usual. The COVID-19 Testing Center is an added service. Additionally, the COVID-19 Testing Tent on the York Hospital campus will no longer be open as of Monday, June 1st. All testing will be done at the COVID-19 Testing Center at York Walk-In Care, 343 US Route One, York.
For more information about York’s COVID-19 Testing Center, please contact The York Hospital Friendraising Office at 207-351-2385.