Christopher Rural Health testing for COVID-19 – WSIL TV

(WSIL) — We have new details on the patient in Franklin County who tested positive for COVID-19.

The Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department confirmed Tuesday that the person is a woman in her 50s, who is self-isolating at home.

County Health officials believe the woman may have got the virus through community spread.

However, News 3 has now learned that the patient was tested at the Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation’s Rea Clinic.

The Corporation’s CEO and President Kim Mitroka says her staff is checking on the woman on a daily basis.

“We took all the precautions for our staff and for our patient,” Mitroka explains. “We are checking on the patient, making sure that her symptoms do not worsen. If they do, we will take the appropriate steps to care for her through this process.”

According to Mitroka, the goal is to keep patients at home if they do not have severe symptoms.

That’s because if patients are sent to the hospital, the virus could spread to others.

However if symptoms do become severe, staff with Christopher Rural Health would call the E.R. and the patient would be taken to the hospital.

If a person believes they have COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms or may have been exposed, they are being asked to call one of Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation’s 11 locations.

Staff will then determine if the person fits the criteria for testing.

If a person does fit the criteria, they are asked to fill out paper work at the door and remain in their car as a safety precaution.

Once tested, the kit is sent to Quest Diagnostics where it takes anywhere from two to five days for the results to be processed.

While awaiting those results, the patients are being asked to stay self-quarantine at home.

“We’ve told them to go home and self quarantine until their test results come in,” Mitroka says. “We’re calling and checking on them every single day. We’re recording their vitals. We’re talking to them.”

COVID-19 testing is just a supplement to the services that Christoper Rural Health Planning Corporation offers.

Christopher Rural Health oversees patients in 11 counties and offers family medicine, nutrition, behavioral health and more.

Mitroka wants patients to know that the clinics are open to patients and offering all the regular services.

“I don’t want people to have the impression that we’ve closed everything off that we are not seeing them and not here for them,” she explains.

Staff are also working to provide more care over the phone or through tele-health services through video chat as a way to keep patients at home.

For more information you can call 1-800-408-7351.