Prisma Health adds drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Sumter

SUMTER, SC—Prisma Health has added another drive-through site at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter. Earlier this week, the site began offering limited drive-through COVID-19 testing for patients with personal identification and orders from their provider. Prisma Health started offering this testing in Columbia and Greenville last week.

The tests will be performed at the hospital’s Calhoun St./Day Surgery entrance, 9 a.m.¬5 p.m., Monday–Friday. Upon arrival at the drive-through location, patients will remain in their car as a sample is collected. The results from these samples will be sent to the ordering physician, and patients will be contacted as soon as their result is available. Because of likely backlog of testing at labs, patients may not receive results for four to seven days.

Physicians determine if a test should be ordered based on a patient’s risk factors, such as age, underlying health issues or recent international travel. Only those people who are experiencing symptoms of the virus — fever, shortness of breath and cough — and who have reason to believe they have been exposed are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Currently, Prisma Health is not able to provide testing to community members without a physician order. Plans are under way to expand testing for more people at additional sites, which will be announced as soon as possible.

Because the healthcare provider suspects that the patient may have COVID-19, we ask that patients self-isolate at home until they hear the results of their test. This is vital to help protect the community from potential exposure. If the patient’s symptoms worsen, they should contact their physician or Prisma Health Virtual Visit provider.

For current information on home isolation and how to protect your family members from potential exposure, please review this guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This information can also be accessed online at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.

Prisma Health Virtual Visits, which launched earlier this month, include a new on-demand video option in addition to the existing online visit option. To access the free virtual visits, use promo code COVID19. To learn more about Virtual Visits or create an account, visit PrismaHealth.org/VirtualVisit.

For more information about COVID-19 and Prisma Health’s continued response, visit PrismaHealth.org/Coronavirus.