Good Samaritan expands drive-thru testing

VINCENNES, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A Vincennes-based health system is increasing drive-through testing for COVID-19. Good Samaritan says it has also opened a pediatric respiratory clinic for any young patients with symptoms of respiratory illness.

The health system’s Suspected Respiratory Illness Drive-Thru Triage Clinic had previously only tested patients who had a known exposure to the coronavirus or had been hospitalized. With the expansion, the clinic will now test any symptomatic patients with a “higher risk for significant illness.”

Good Samaritan says the new category includes patients who are 60 years of age or older, have diabetes, have chronic lung disease, have cardiovascular disease or have chronic renal disease.

The clinic will also consider testing for individuals with known high-risk exposure, including contact with a confirmed positive patient, travel to certain areas with high COVID-19 cases and “symptomatic patients that work in high contact areas where social distancing is difficult.”

The clinic is located at 1813 Willow Street in Vincennes. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Good Samaritan’s new Pediatric Respiratory Clinic, located near the drive-thru triage clinic, opened Monday to see pediatric patients with any respiratory illness symptoms. The health system says patients must have an appointment to be seen at the clinic.