×

What do residents want to know about COVID-19?

ESCANABA — What do area residents want to know about COVID-19. According to OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Community Relations Coordinator Lindsey Stearns, the following questions are the most asked in inquires at the hospital. Each question is answered by local medical personnel.

1 — What is the difference between testing sites, in-house testing, and specimen collection sites?

In-house testing refers to health care facilities that provide specimen collection by way of nasopharyngeal swab and run their own test for COVID-19 in their laboratory.

When you hear, “testing sites” or “specimen collection sites” it means facilities that are collecting specimen from patients by way of a nasopharyngeal swab. The specimen is then sent out to a laboratory outside of their own facility. Test results are generally provided to the specimen collection site within two days.

Currently there are no in-house testing sites in Delta County. OSF HealthCare has, and continues to be a specimen collection site and submits the specimen to an outside laboratory for COVID-19 test results.

– Rhian Dalgord, Nurse Practitioner, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

2 — Why aren’t more hospitals making in-house testing available?

In-house testing requires having the proper lab analyzer or equipment that matches up with the available test reagents that have been FDA approved for COVID-19 testing. Many of the available tests are reserved or being routed to the areas that have a very high prevalence or quick spread of COVID-19, which limits the availability of these reagents in rural areas. Additionally, manufacturers of the reagents can only produce a certain quantity of the tests each day. The reagents and tests are typically allocated to a limited number of locations to consistently provide reagents to those customers.

Facilities that have the proper equipment and tests available still require additional items to be available to utilize them, such as collection kits, which consist of both a sterile collection swab and transport media.

Hospitals with in-house testing go through a validation process to ensure all components of the tests are working appropriately. They need to show a positive is in fact a positive result and a negative is a true negative result.

– Kim Mahoney, Manager of Laboratory Services, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

3 — Can I get tested if I am not experiencing symptoms?

Testing criteria expanded in the State of Michigan to test asymptomatic, not experiencing symptoms, critical infrastructure workers only when there is adequate specimen collection and test processing capacity after serving all known patients in higher-priority testing categories. This group of testing criteria falls in the last of four criteria priorities. The expansion of testing criteria does not always match the amount of testing supplies. At this time, OSF HealthCare must continue prioritizing testing to the top two categories of patients and are not currently testing asymptomatic individuals due to limited testing supplies. However, supply levels continue to be monitored and testing could expand if supply levels do.

– Rhian Dalgord, Nurse Practitioner, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

4 — Where can I get tested, have specimen collected?

We advise all patients to contact the COVID-19 Nurse Hotline at 833-OSF-KNOW, 833-673-5669, for screening to see if they qualify for testing. If testing is indicated, the patient will be directed to the Walk-In Clinic for evaluation and specimen collection.

OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Community Relations Coordinator Lindsey Stearns

5 — How many people have tested positive for COVID-19 in our area?

The number of positive cases is updated daily. The most up to date and accurate source for information is Michigan.gov. – OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Community Relations Coordinator Lindsey Stearns

6 — My employer is telling me I need to get tested before I can return to work. What should I do?

Call the COVID-19 Nurse Hotline for screening at 833-673-5669. We are happy to speak with you regarding qualification for testing at this time. Each case is individual, so calling the triage line directly will allow a health care provider to evaluate each case and answer your specific questions. –

– Rhian Dalgord, Nurse Practitioner, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

7 — Why are we not testing everyone? I heard on the news I could get tested.

The expansion of testing criteria does not always match the expansion of testing supplies. At this time OSF is providing specimen collection for higher priority categories of patients and are not testing asymptomatic individual because of supply limitations. The criteria outlined by the state is as follows.

Priority one – hospitalized patients, health care workers with symptoms

Priority two – patients in care facilities-nursing homes, jails, group homes, etc., patients over 65 or underlying conditions with symptoms, first responders with symptoms

Priority three – critical infrastructure workers with symptoms, individuals who do not meet any of the above criteria with symptoms, asymptomatic health care workers and first responders, individuals with mild symptoms in communities experiencing HIGH COVID-19 hospitalization – State of Michigan interprets the full state to be a community with high COVID-19 hospitalizations

New Priority four – critical infrastructure workers, including asymptomatic workers – These individuals may be tested only if specimen collection and testing capacity remains after serving all groups above

– Nicole Pirlot, Infection Preventionist, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

8 — I need to see my doctor but am afraid to go to the hospital or doctor’s office because I might get COVID-19. What should I do?

We encourage people to contact their primary care provider’s office regarding concerns related to their health. Chronic conditions and other illnesses continue through this pandemic and it is important people are receiving proper care. No one should delay emergency care out of fear of contracting COVID-19. For non-emergency medical needs it will be determined on an individual basis if you will benefit from a video or in-person visit. Talking directly with your care team will ensure you are receiving appropriate and timely care.

HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Community Relations Coordinator Lindsey Stearns

9 — How can I prevent getting COVID-19?

Hand washing, physical distancing and avoiding touching your face are key. Be sure to wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds, maintain a distance of six feet when you are out completing essential activities and avoid touching your face. Also, when you are wearing your face mask, be sure it is covering both your mouth and nose. Avoid touching and readjusting the mask, as we want to limit touching our face.

– Rhian Dalgord, Nurse Practitioner, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

10 — What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19 — cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or at least two of these symptoms, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness. This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

– Nicole Pirlot, Infection Preventionist, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

11 — Is there a treatment, cure, for COVID-19?

There are options for symptom management, but there is no cure for COVID-19 and no vaccine available at this time.

– Nicole Pirlot, Infection Preventionist, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today