CMH to close COVID-19 drive-thru testing site
Citizens Memorial Hospital will be closing their drive-thru COVID-19 testing site Saturday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m.
The COVID-19 testing site opened March 20, 2020, in a large tent at the start of the pandemic and was intended to be a temporary service. As the pandemic continued the tent was replaced by a more permanent shelter to keep staff out of inclement weather.
“During the last 14 month, more than 15,100 COVID-19 tests have been performed at this site,” says Susan Gladden, director of COVID testing response and lab special project management. “Our testing staff has provided excellent, safe care and friendly, compassionate customer service to patients of all ages while braving Missouri’s weather.
“We couldn’t have been more thankful for the support of the community in the first few weeks of operation as local businesses brought meals and warm drinks and individuals brought treats and encouragement. It has been our pleasure to provide testing for those who need us and now, as we close, I encourage our community to continue to seek care at our top-notch clinics and local health departments for testing, treatment and vaccination."
In addition to testing CMH patients, the COVID-19 testing site served as an important resource for Bolivar and surrounding communities.
“CMH has invested in equipment to ensure that patients and residents have ongoing access to COVID-19 testing,” says Michael Calhoun, CMH chief operating officer. “We are performing PCR testing for COVID-19 at our hospital laboratory and also testing for COVID in all of our primary care clinics. The need for a designated facility such as the drive-thru testing site has diminished and now can be done as part of our normal operations.”
CMH patients and community members who have been using the COVID-19 testing site will now be directed to other testing facilities. The CMH COVID-19 Hotline, 417-328-4300, will continue to operate Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The hotline is for non-emergency calls only.
CMH Patients and Employees
- CMH surgical services patients needing pre-operative COVID-19 testing will now report to CMH Outpatient Surgery Center registration located in the Kerry & Synda Douglas Medical Center, 1155 W. Parkview St., Bolivar.
- CMH patients who need COVID-19 testing due to an exposure or symptoms, or need to be tested before traveling should contact their primary care providers for testing services at their CMH clinics.
- CMH employees who need COVID-19 testing due to an exposure will receive information from the CMH employee health coordinator and/or infection prevention coordinator.
Non-CMH Patients and Community
- Non-CMH surgery patients will be directed by their primary care providers for COVID-19 testing services. For those patients whose orders were faxed to the CMH COVID-19 testing site already, staff members have contacted those primary care providers who will be contacting their patients with further instructions.
- Big Tree Medical Home and Fresenius Kidney Care patients will be directed by their medical providers for testing services.
- Southwest Baptist University athletes will be testing at Southside Medical Center, 1120 S. Springfield Ave., Bolivar.
- Miles for Smiles dental patients, who are having procedures requiring sedation, starting June 1, will go to Southside Medical Center.
For more information about COVID-19 testing, call 417-328-4300.