COVID-19 testing guidelines from the Iowa Department of Public Health
COVID-19 testing at VMH being performed outside of main building ... Veterans Memorial Hospital follows the Iowa Department of Public Health testing guidelines for COVID-19. Testing is performed outside of the hospital in the upper parking lot. Hospital staff wear all personal protective equipment whenever collecting the samples. To qualify for a test, patients must meet one of the following criteria listed in the accompanying article and must call ahead. Submitted photos.
Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to follow the Iowa Department of Public Health recommendations for testing of COVID-19. To qualify for a test, patients must meet one of the following criteria:
· Hospitalized patient (of any age) with fever or respiratory illness for diagnosis or any hospitalized patient prior to discharge to a long term care facility or other nursing care facility
· Older adult (over 60 years of age) with fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing) and chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, or chronic kidney disease)
· Person of any age with fever or respiratory illness who lives in a congregate setting (i.e., long term care facilities, dormitories, residential facilities, correctional facilities, treatment facilities)
· Healthcare worker, essential services personnel, first responder or critical infrastructure worker with fever or respiratory illness (e.g., healthcare worker, fire, EMS, law enforcement, residential facility staff, food supply and water plant operators)
· Children receiving care in and staff working in childcare homes and childcare centers with fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing) without alternative diagnosis
· Symptomatic and asymptomatic close contacts (defined as spending more than 15 minutes within six feet) of persons who test positive for COVID-19 infection using PCR viral testing. Close contact testing should not occur until at least 48 hours after the earliest exposure to COVID-19 positive persons.
COVID-19 testing is available at Veterans Memorial Hospital from 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but everyone must call ahead. Call 563-568-3411 and speak with the receptionist. She will transfer all calls to the COVID line within the hospital to discuss symptoms and exposure details with a nurse. Anyone qualifying for a test will be given instructions on how to proceed with drive-up testing. Samples are then sent to the State of Iowa with results received typically 48-72 hours later.
