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Wheeling Hospital Expands COVID-19 Testing

WHEELING – Wheeling Hospital is offering in-facility testing for area skilled nursing/rehabilitation facilities and long-term care providers.

Testing workers will travel within a 25-mile radius from Wheeling Hospital, although case-by-case exceptions may be offered. Testing will be done at facilities in both West Virginia and Ohio.

For residents who need to be tested, the facility workers should use the hospital’s COVID-19 one-call number at 304-221-3995. Nurse navigators will triage the patient over the phone, and if it is determined through the call that the patient is symptomatic, that person’s name will be sent to the “tester” and in-facility testing will be performed.

“We worry about our vulnerable post-acute population and wanted to put an action plan in place to protect the most at-risk,” said Heidi Porter, Wheeling Hospital’s vice president of Quality and Regulatory Affairs.

Donald Kirsch, administrator at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Wheeling, said they are “thrilled” to be able to have in-facility testing, should the need arise, and he thanked Wheeling Hospital for the initiative.

“This decision means that our residents can remain in the comfort of their room and our facility, rather than having to be transported … for testing,” Kirsch said.

Meanwhile, members of the general public with a valid order can still receive COVID-19 tests at Wheeling Hospital’s off-site testing center in Wheeling Park. The testing began March 18, and 662 people have been tested as of Tuesday afternoon.

The regional center handles patients from all of the area’s hospitals in the WVU Medicine System including Harrison Community, Reynolds Memorial, Barnesville and Wetzel Community. It is for at-risk patients who have a valid order.

In order to be tested, people must call 304-221-3995. If the phone triage determines the patient is symptomatic, they will be added to the list for testing at the site. Testing is performed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Wheeling Park location.

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