OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Beginning this week, Nebraska Medicine staff will be starting coronavirus testing on the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s campus. This drive-thru site is only open to those who have been given a testing lab order from a Nebraska Medicine provider.
The purpose of this clinic is to help reduce the strain on patients and staff at Nebraska Medical Center, Bellevue Medical Center and other centers in the area.
Patients who are getting tested are advised to enter campus by the 67th and Dodge Street entrance. From there signs will lead cars to Lot M, which is north of the testing site, and check in. Those getting a test will need to have a photo ID and their lab order with them in order to be tested. The cars will then be escorted down to Lot N and will line up in between cones before heading in to the testing site, which is located in a parking garage.
The patients will never leave the cars as part of the process.
"This gives us a way to provide testing in a setting away from vulnerable patients at our hospitals and health centers,” said a Nebraska Medicine spokesperson in a statement provided to 3 News Now. “All patients who are providing samples at this location have been referred by Nebraska Medicine providers and meet the current considerations for testing. Referral documentation must be presented before samples are collected.”
"This is a safe way to collect samples for testing for the patient, the provider, and the community,” said Dr. Mark Rupp, an Infectious Diseases Specialist for Nebraska Medicine, in another statement provided to 3 News Now. “The UNO campus community should know that every precaution is in place. Only Nebraska Medicine staff members will be coming in close contact with the patients reporting for testing; the patient stays in their vehicle. Many other cities and localities have similar drive through facilities in operation. Those taking the samples have been thoroughly trained and will have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to handle the samples.”
3 News Now also spoke on the phone with Cathy Pettid, the Dean of Students at UNO. She said the site was carefully thought out and orchestrated and the school wouldn’t do anything that brings additional risk to campus. She added the university is changing shuttle routes that would normally pass by the collection site to add an extra layer of protection to students.
The goal is to have the testing site up and running later this week and will be operating daily from 8 a.m. until noon. The site is not yet currently open
UNO campus police are planning on keeping the road next to the site open to through-traffic during testing hours.
It’s important for viewers to remember this site is not open to the general public but only to those who have been referred by a Nebraska Medicine provider.