County’s COVID-19 assessment centre by appointment only

Dr. Elizabeth Christie

The Prince Edward County COVID-19 Assessment Centre – operating by appointment only, as a tented outdoor drive-through facility – has opened.

The centre will assess and, when appropriate, test people who may be infected with COVID-19, in an environment where risk of transmission is low.

“Our goal is to minimize the number of patients going to their family physician’s offices and the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Emergency Department,” said Dr. Elizabeth Christie, in a statement.

The centre will operate seven days per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and for safety reasons, unscheduled appointments are strictly prohibited.

Not every patient who is seen at the assessment centre will be tested. Patients wondering if they should be assessed are advised to call their family physician,Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at 613-966-5500, or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

There is also an assessment centre in Belleville for patients living there, which takes referrals the same way.

Patients can expect to give their basic information to administrative staff, and then talk to the nurse to discuss their symptoms by telephone. If the nurse and doctor decide the patient needs to be seen, they will be given a time to drive to the assessment centre.

“The assessment is done by the doctor with the patient inside their car,” explains Dr. Christie. “From there, the doctor will provide medical advice and follow-up as needed.

The County COVID-19 Assessment Centre is the result of collaboration between local family physicians, the Prince Edward Family Health Team,Quinte Health Care, Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health, and the County of Prince Edward.

“We are very grateful to the County and its wonderful staff, Fields on West Lake for their tent, and to the many volunteers of Prince Edward County who have contributed equipment, scrubs and personal protective equipment,” said Dr. Christie.

If you would like to help make gowns or masks for the assessment centre, contact ppe4pec@gmail.com or go to the “PPE for PEC” Facebook page.