You should discuss testing with a provider if you are experiencing mild to severe upper respiratory symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, or fever. You might also choose to get tested if you are experiencing symptoms or have been around someone with a known exposure to COVID-19. HealthCare workers and First Responders are also encouraged to consider being tested. 

For the individual:  A positive COVID-19 test is helpful information. Depending on your condition, you may qualify for certain kinds of treatment. For most, the next appropriate step will be self-quarantine and treatment for symptoms.

For general population health: An increase in testing availability is important for public health officials and epidemiologists to have better information to track the general health of the local population. As they inform government officials of how to mitigate spread, having more population health testing data will help make accurate decisions on closing or re-opening various social activities.

For learning about the disease: The collective results from testing a higher percentage of the population allows epidemiologists to track the disease and learn more about its nature and how it is spread.

With any type of medical testing, there will always be a percentage of false positives and false negatives. As this novel strain of coronavirus is new, the technologies around testing are also new and will continue to improve in the days to come. We won’t know the details around accuracy until scientists have been able to review the data over a period of time. But even with flu tests, which have been around for a number of years, there is an average of a 30% false negative result. This does not make the test useless, but it does help remind people that testing is not the one quick fix solution. It is part of a larger strategy. This is one of the key reasons we are requiring individuals who utilize our testing resources to do so in partnership with a provider or nurse visit. As they navigate a negative or positive test, their provider will be able to educate them on how to treat whatever symptoms they may be feeling.

At this time, we have both rapid and, slower, PCR testing for COVID. While every medical test has false positives and negatives, we are now able to test with a decent degree of confidence in the result. As with every test, interpreting the results with the help of your medical provider is the best way to use the results

Anyone in need. We ask that you first call our clinic so they can discuss the options with you. But you do not need an ID, insurance or even the suggested donation to be seen. We'll make sure medical guidance and testing during these difficult times are accessible for those who need it.

Currently, the testing we have access to is the pharyngeal nasal swab. Nurses will use that swab (it will look like a long q-tip) to collect specimen in the upper nasal passage (the swab will go up your nose). They’ll then package it and send to a lab. Collecting the specimen can be uncomfortable and cause you to sneeze or cough.

There will also be added time on site for administrative needs and paperwork for accurate record keeping. To get test results, it is currently a 3-4 day turnaround. This turnaround could change based on the influx of test requests and the availability of the laboratories that run them.

Once your tests are in, someone on our staff team will call you with the results.

As the global healthcare community develops point of care testing (faster turnaround) and resources are made more widely available, we will gladly initiate these tests as well.  

If you are a patient experiencing upper respiratory symptoms, please do not come to the site expecting to be able to use restrooms or wait in the lobby. As our clinics have been able to open our doors to non-COVID-19 patients, we have a set of policies and procedures to keep our patients with any upper respiratory symptoms (with concern for COVID-19) separate from other patients.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness spread in droplets. To be infected by someone else you would have to inhale droplets they expel by talking, sneezing, or coughing OR come into physical contact with a surface with infected droplets on it and have that droplet enter via mouth, nose, or eye.

To mitigate the possibility of being infected, our site will take multiple strategies into consideration.

In addition to separating testing from the rest of the facility, we also will have staff in the appropriate PPE, including masks and face shields for those interacting with patients. With this protection, it is very unlikely a droplet from an infected individual pass to an uninfected individual. The face shield is a physical barrier, and the mask serves as a barrier for both access to and from the mouth and nose. As always, staff will change gloves between patients, to prevent cross contamination of patients.

Additionally, our team will use the appropriate CDC and epidemiologist recommended cleaning tactics to sanitize any surfaces that are used.

As with all things, there is always some risk. But the above safety precautions as well as appropriate donning/doffing procedures for staff in PPE are in line with the most stringent practices and ways to protect from exposure.

For those without insurance, Watermark Health will provide the testing free of charge. To speak with our providers there is a suggested $10 donation. We will never prohibit services for someone due to inability to pay.

If you have financial means and would like to help cover the cost of testing for someone that is uninsured, you can help! The tests will cost Watermark Health $70 each to run. You can donate to cover for that cost via our website here.

Walk up testing is available Monday-Thursday from 5pm-8pm at our Skillman Clinic. If you have symptoms please call ahead of time- any time during the day when we are open.

As the novel strain of the coronavirus spread worldwide in 2020 and into 2021, widespread testing availability is still a key part of providing the correct diagnosis, accurate public health information, and allow providers and patients to implement best practices in limiting the spread to uninfected individuals. As the world continues to adjust, we will continue to see how God can use our talented staff and volunteer pool of medical and pastoral professionals to meet the needs of our community and specifically serve the uninsured.

All throughout scripture we see that God’s people are blessed to be a blessing. In this time of great need and uncertainty in our world, the church can be a solution to both physical and spiritual needs. By deploying the same partnerships that we’ve been able to provide excellent medical care through the last 7 years, we’re able to open these additional services to the community. In Jeremiah 29:7, the people of God are reminded to seek the welfare of the city they’re in. Jumping in to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic is just one way we’ve been able to serve, and we’ll see where God will take us next now that we’ve been able to open our doors.

COVID-19 is still an ever-changing situation. We are excited to serve you in this way but ask that anyone interested in testing remain flexible and adaptable. Your provider will be your best point of contact for questions on your healthcare needs after testing occurs.

​

For general information on COVID-19 and what you can do to protect yourself or treat any symptoms at home, see our website here.