As the coronavirus continues to spread across Southeastern Wisconsin, you may have questions about how you can get tested. Here is a list of how each medical provider in the community is handling the process of testing and who you should contact for screenings and appointments.
Before going to any hospital or clinic, they all require you to call ahead of time.
FROEDTERT SOUTH:
Froedtert South opened Southeastern Wisconsin's first drive-thru coronavirus testing site outside its Pleasant Prairie Clinic on March 17.
The testing is open to the public and not limited to Froedtert South patients. You first have to call (262) 671-7777 to get screened by a nurse. The staff member will then decide whether testing is warranted in the drive-thru outside the clinic, and make you an appointment.
Right now they're focused on testing patients with more critical patients based on CDC criteria. Their samples will sent to the state lab, with results returning in about 2 to 3 days.
It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. They are appointment only.
ASCENSION MEDICAL GROUP:
Anyone who is an Ascension patient and wants to get tested first has to get screened by a nurse by either calling Ascension's coronavirus hotline at (833) 981-0711 or Ascension Online Care, which offers visits with a doctor 24/7 from work, travel or home. You can use the code HOME for a discounted $20 visit during March. You can also download the app, which is available in all 50 states.
The nurse who screens you will then decide whether testing is warranted based on the CDC guidelines.
Drive-thru testing sites will be designated for patients with milder symptoms, as medical professionals test and treat more critical patients at the hospital. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. depending on demand. Appointments are required.
The first Ascension drive-thru testing sites in Southeastern Wisconsin opened March 23 at the following places:
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital's Medical Office Building in Franklin
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Milwaukee, Gateway Clinic in West Allis
- Ascension St. Francis Medical Arts Pavilion in Milwaukee
- Ascension Wisconsin Health Center's Urgent Care in Mount Pleasant
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Mayfair Road Urgent Care in Wauwatosa
- Grafton High School in Grafton
Later on, Ascension drive-thru testing sites will also be at the following places:
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Elmbrook Campus in Brookfield
- Other Ascension Milwaukee locations
Samples from critical patients will get sent to the state and city lab, with quicker turnaround time. Samples from milder patients will get tested at commercial labs. Ascension is working on getting authorization to test samples in their lab and provide faster results.
Insurance information will be taken in case of follow-up care, however there will be no charge for the test.
AURORA HEALTH CARE:
To get tested, you will need authorization. First, call Aurora's coronavirus hotline at (866) 443-2584 or log onto their LiveWell phone app for a virtual visit. A nurse will screen you and decide whether to register you for testing at a drive-thru. If you go to a testing location without authorization, you will experience delays.
Your test will get processed either by the state or city lab or by ACL Laboratories through Aurora, which will soon be able to perform at least 400 tests across the Aurora system and return results in less than 24 hours.
A drive-thru testing site outside Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee has been placed on hold because of the national shortage of test kits. It initially was expected to open the week of March 23.
FROEDTERT AND MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN:
Walk-in testing is not available, and testing is ONLY open to patients with a Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin health provider. These patients will need to contact their provider by phone or virtually. Their provider will screen them and decide whether testing is warranted at one of their health centers. Those health centers are not open to the general public for COVID-19 testing.
If you feel like you've been exposed to someone with the coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms, call Froedtert's coronavirus hotline at (414) 805-2000.
Froedtert officials say they are focusing on testing their most at-risk patients right now.
MILWAUKEE VA MEDICAL CENTER:
The Milwaukee VA urges veterans who believe they have symptoms of the coronavirus or have been exposed to others with the virus to call the nurse triage line at (888) 469-6614 before going to the medical center or their clinic.
Medical professionals will swab those veterans who they feel testing is warranted.
They're sending potentially positive samples to the state and city labs to test. The VA is hoping to be able to get the authority to test onside in the future.
PROHEALTH CARE:
If you believe you should be tested, call your health care provider or schedule a virtual visit. Right now, virtual urgent care visits are discounted to $20.
ProHealth Care patients and other members of the public can call their coronavirus hotline at (262) 928-4499 for any questions and concerns. It will be staffed around the clock and will help people who have symptoms decide whether they need to seek care.
Currently, testing is only available to those who are hospitalized, older adults and those with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems, and health care workers with unexplained fever and signs or symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness.
CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN:
Children's Wisconsin is not a public testing location for the coronavirus.
Before going to a Children's Hospital, parents who feel their child has been exposed to the coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms are asked to call their child's doctor or schedule an online urgent care video visit with a pediatric provider.
If your child needs immediate attention, Children's Wisconsin still urges you to call ahead before going to one of their locations so they can take any necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to Children's Wisconsin, the symptoms are typically mild for kids, and your child's doctor will likely recommend they stay hopeful, social distancing, and take over-the-counter medication.
Once again, before going to any hospital or clinic, they all require you to call ahead of time.