March 19, 2020
The first step to pursue testing for the novel coronavirus is to call your doctor, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you don’t have a doctor, the state of Michigan has a hotline specifically for people who suspect they may have the coronavirus. That number is 888.535.6136.
Or, contact your county health department.
The CDC urges those who believe they may have the coronavirus to call ahead before visiting a doctor or emergency room. If they can see you, they do not want you mixing in waiting rooms with other patients, so it’s important to take direction from them on where to go, if anywhere.
The state of Michigan says it is working to increase its capacity to test cases, and health systems in some areas now are providing drive-thru services.
Warning signs of COVID-19, indicating that you need immediate medical attention, are:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
The CDC says that this list is not all-inclusive; however, even mild cases of the virus normally start with a fever (almost 9 in 10 cases) and include some respiratory symptoms such as a dry cough (7 in 10).
Comments
what about people that don't have a primary doctor?
The article reads: "If you don’t have a doctor, the state of Michigan has a hotline specifically for people who suspect they may have the coronavirus. That number is 888.535.6136.
Or, contact your county health department. "
Bill I'm a registered nurse and I want you to know that my insurance company told me to go to an urgent care if I do not have a physician. They will see you and they can give you a prescription for the test. There are several drive through testing sites one I believe is at ProMedica in Monroe and another one is at Beaumont in Trenton. You do not need to have insurance to be treated. Governor Whitmer has said that in her messages to state. If you are ill please go to the Urgent Care. Call them first and let them know you are coming and what's your symptoms are so they can prepare. I wish you the best. God bless you.
So where can one get tested? Midland County
Call your primary doctor and tell him what your symptoms are. He may want you to come in for a visit or he may just assess you over the phone. If your symptoms are within the CDC guidelines your doctor can write you a prescription with your suspected diagnosis a covid 19. There are several drive-through test sites. Two that I know of is ProMedica in Monroe and Beaumont hospitals in Trenton and Royal Oak. they may be more sites available that are near to you. You can call the health department and they can give you complete information regarding where these are located and if there are any additional requirements that I have not listed. God bless you.
CALLED SPECTRUM FOR DRIVE THRU TEST IN GR THIS AM & WAS TOLD NO TEST KITS ARE BEING ISSUED UNLESS YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY! SO ALL RESULTS ARE FAKE & ABOUT 10,000 OFF FROM REALITY!
I have a mild dry cough with chills but body is hot to touch. Called doc and also called CDC office just got told stay at home I want to be tested. If this isn't the infection I will not lose my job, and I'm able to pay bills.
Need answers?
I would like to know how to get my test results.
Should I get tested if me spouse came back positive?
I hope i can continue this service free, during this troubling time.
Was told to stay home unless I can't breathe. Had fever weeks ago. Have continued pressure on chest. Had to choose between eating and breathing. At 3 and a half weeks now of having the issues. Very concerned that Munson wouldn't let me come in. My primary care doctor downstate said go to the Munson ER. I called them. They said they need doctor's orders to test. I didn't want to get anyone else sick so I didn't go. The virus is most likely in Antrim. Would help if the testing would be allowed. If you live up here, please take this seriously.
I am 60 yrs. old and autoimmune compromised. I have every symptom of Coronavirus except fever - although non-emergent but with a deep cough and increased shortness of breath. After two telehealth visits with my internist and taking Beaumont Hospital's, Royal Oak, online Covid 19 test screening (which recommended that I immediately get tested), I drove myself to their drive through testing site. Upon arrival I was given a sheet of paper (directly copied from the CDC only with Beaumont's logo) which on the bottom in fine print, it stated that I would be charged for an emergency room visit plus physician and service fees.
To make matters worse, after waiting in my car until it was my turn, I was then told that they were no longer even testing! However, the person (who was not even a medical professional and therefore could not give me medical advise) strongly encouraged me to register and go inside (among all the other sick patients) to discuss how best to self quarantine (which I had been already had been doing). This poor embarrassed employee also knew that I was already being monitored by my doctor so there was no need to be evaluated. She was not allowed to even give me any literature unless I registered (although she did not specifically say that, it was implied). Another woman, who I assumed was a medical professional, handed me a flyer along with another knowing look. However, that flyer too was from the CDC with Beaumont's logo. I was exhausted and in tears at this point. Plus, I still had to drive home.
At the end of the day, Beaumont just wanted my money. If the test had been available and I had tested negative, I would have been exposed to the virus any other diseases had I followed her instructions. I was (and still am) sick, in an immune-compromised state. It was very stressful driving to Beaumont in this condition, as I did not want to put my husband at risk by being in the car with me. Nowhere on their website did Beaumont state that the test would be billed as an emergency room visit let alone that there were NO TESTS AVAILABLE. The CDC and all other sources state that unless it is an emergency DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM but contact your physician. Which I had done. Twice. Followed by a third time (after my experience at Beaumont which left me weaker).
The Beaumont Health System is taking advantage of this medical emergency for their own profit and endangering the lives of their patients. This is an egregious situation and I fear that it will only add to the spread of the virus, the already overwhelmed hospitals and the healthcare providers. In addition, so many people are losing their jobs and cannot afford to be scammed during the crisis when they are scared, sick and vulnerable.
Sadly, it appears that the Beaumont Health System has become a non-profit hospital in name only and their corporate focus on finance over patient health has resulted in a broken system. This incident certainly reinforces what I read about in Sunday's article in The Detroit Free Press regarding Beaumont's taking the chance of potentially passing the virus to their dedicated nurses/assistants who may then pass it to non-Covid 19 patients who then spread it to the community by withholding PPE.
I hope your organization can investigate Beaumont Health System's lack of honesty on their website for not having the Coronavirus test kits available at this time, the expenses incurred with getting the test (once available) and offering only evaluations for now or at least report it to the proper authorities. Thank you.
You can't blame the hospital for not having enough tests. They only have so many available. You should have seen your doctor. My brother in law tested positive. He went to his doctor and was tested. Took 2 weeks to get results but still. Your doctor has to drive your urgency. If he won't do that then you need another doctor. If things get really bad and you feel your life is in danger as you can't breath then you need to call 911 and be taken by ambulance to a hospital. Many of the insurance companies are not charging for the testing. Unfortunately at 60 years old you're not on Medicare which would by itself cover 80 of a hospitalization but do not let the cost of medical treatment stop you from getting treatment. At least you'll be alive and you can fight the battle over doctor and hospital bills another day. Good luck.
Does not surprise me. Beaumont is a for profit hospital. I had to go to a different hospital due to a fall and laceration that required stitches. I was taken by ambulance and was taken care of. However I found that it seemed like there were not consistent protocols in place for how to discharge people.
But what if you have a chronic disease and the symptoms of the covid-19 is like the symptoms you have anyways??