Kent Hospital expands with testing and respiratory units

Along with our expanded in-hospital preparations, there are an additional three outside units set up on the Kent Hospital property. They are:

The COVID-19 testing tent. This was the first new unit on the Kent property, created in partnership with the DOH. This has been in operation for about a week now, and is used for testing appointments that are directed by the DOH. If a potential patient is screened by the DOH via telephone and it is determined that a test is warranted, they may be sent to this tent for drive through nasopharyngeal swab test, minimizing exposer to others.

The second outside unit was created aside the Kent emergency department in anticipation of volume increases of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms. This allows us to have a space to more easily keep symptomatic patients away from other emergency department patients, and away from each other. This also allows for greater area to assess as we plan for surge capacity.

A third unit is what we are calling a Respiratory Infections Triage unit, and is an assessment center where our providers can recommend a symptomatic patient who does not need to be sent to the emergency department can go to be seen for some other reason to the primary care office, or if telephone/video visit is not a good option. This is for appointments made through providers where the patient should be assessed in person, and this unit will have the ability for these primary care providers to administer in-person examinations as needed. This is not an emergency room, it’s an expansion of the doctor’s office.

These venue options allow Kent Hospital to say, “the bottom line is that we are prepared to take care of you in the venue that makes the most sense. If you’re feeling unwell, call your doctor, and they will advise you on where to go”.

(Photo: ABC6 Twitter page – Amanda Pitts)