Rock Hill healthcare center offers drive-thru coronavirus testing. What to know.
York County residents who may have COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, can get tested locally.
Affinity Health Center is offering curbside testing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in Rock Hill. Testing is by appointment, according to a release from Affinity Health.
Residents wanting a test need to call 803-909-6363, ext. 0 to first be screened for coronavirus-related symptoms.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Anita Case, executive director of Affinity Health, said anyone with symptoms should seek a screening. She said it’s important for people to know when to isolate to protect others.
For people with insurance, the test will be billed to their provider. For uninsured people, Affinity will not charge for the tests, which cost about $50 each to process, Case said.
Case said residents with mild symptoms are encouraged not to go to hospitals for testing.
“It’s very important that people abide by the stay-at-home order if they don’t have to go out for work or essential needs,” Case said. “We’re all a part of slowing this down.”
“Most people can still recover in their homes. We need to let the hospital take care of those who need the hospital care.”
Case said Affinity has kept all staff members despite a loss in revenue from a decline in on-site patients. Curbside testing started last Monday, Case said.
Affinity is accepting new patients, including those with Medicaid and Medicare. Residents should call Affinity for more information.
Affinity, a nonprofit healthcare provider, is a United Way of York County partner agency.
“No one is turned away due to inability to pay,” states in a release.
Affinity has locations in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover and York. The Rock Hill site is the only one currently open, Case said.
Affinity’s services include medical care, dental care, mental health, HIV and Hepatitis C care and substance abuse services, the release states. Affinity serves more than 6,700 patients.
During the pandemic, Affinity is offering care through telehealth visits, according to the center.
Affinity also has an on-site pharmacy with discounted medications for people without insurance, the release states.
Community members can support Affinity through financial donations online or through checks mailed to 455 Lakeshore Parkway, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Other test options
Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for identifying and treating patients who may have COVID-19, The Herald previously reported.
The hospital set up a tent outside the entrance of the emergency department for screening, testing and triage, Piedmont spokeswoman Daisy Burroughs told The Herald in March. Tests are prioritized based on CDC guidelines, including for people at risk for complications and those who had contact with someone suspected to have the virus.
Piedmont provided this statement to The Herald Monday: “Our testing process remains the same. We are treating all patients that require care and present to our hospital, to include patients experiencing urgent and emergent health emergencies such as heart attack and stroke.
“Thus far, the numbers of both viral and non-viral patients have been low and manageable. We can safely and appropriately care for our patients with the necessary supplies and equipment,” reads the statement.
Piedmont also has an online screening tool people with symptoms can use to determine their next steps. The assessment tool is located at the bottom right of Piedmont’s website.
Atrium Health, which has an urgent care in Rock Hill, has an online COVID-19 risk assessment. The hospital is limiting in-house testing to patients with flu-like symptoms who meet certain risk criteria, The Herald previously reported.
Drive-thru testing is being done between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Medical University of South Carolina Hospital Lancaster, said Darren Player, Lancaster County Emergency Management director. Tests are by appointment only following a screening through the MUSC telehealth system.
Chester County residents with symptoms should complete an online screening through MUSC to determine if they will be sent for testing, said Britt Lineberger, Chester County EMS director.
The CDC also has an online screening tool.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
