Physicians Quality Care received five more positive test results for the coronavirus, Thursday.
The tests continue in its secure and isolated COVID-19 clinic at its Jackson location on Pleasant Plains Extension.
“From the beginning, we wanted to give all of our patients a secure location as they seek medical care,” said Dr. Jimmy Hoppers, CEO of Physicians Quality Care. “We wanted to encourage people with coronavirus concerns to come in for testing, but we also needed to assure our regular urgent care patients, who are not experiencing symptoms related to the virus, and our OCCMed and primary care patients, who still need medical care, that they would not be exposed to the virus when they came to our clinic.
“The bottom line is that patients coming to Physicians Quality Care do not need to worry that they are going to be exposed to the coronavirus.”
On March 18, Physicians Quality Care set up three separate clinics at its Jackson location. Each has separate entrances and exam rooms.
The approach is working well,” Hoppers said, “To make sure our patients are properly segregated, we screen all urgent care patients at the door with questions and a temperature check.
“We err on the cautious side. Based on the patient’s history and clinical presentation, if there is a significant possibility the patient may have the virus, they are sent to the COVID-19 clinic.
“There, they immediately go to an exam room, so they don’t come in contact with any other patient.”
A total of 593 patients have sought coronavirus testing.
The clinic has received 537 tests back and is waiting on 56 results.
All of PQC’s test kits are FDA approved; they are sent to CDC-approved, nationally accredited reference laboratories.
Thursday’s positive tests bring the total number of PQC patients with the virus to
30. Here’s the breakdown by county: Madison, 20; Gibson, 3; Haywood, 3; Carroll, 1; McNairy, 1; Henderson, 1; and Obion, 1.
“We are testing people who are anxious about the virus, people who are worried that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, have someone at home at high risk or think they themselves are at increased risk,” Hoppers said.
Patients with COVID-19 concerns should call PQC ahead of time or from the clinic’s parking lot when they arrive. They will be given a mask, brought through the COVID-19 clinic entrance and taken directly to an exam room without waiting.
Besides the test for COVID-19, the exam includes a medical history, physical exam and screening for other common illnesses that are treatable yet may mimic COVID-19 symptoms.
The Jackson location is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
With all COVID-19 concerned patients directed to Jackson, the Milan location is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, call 731-984-8400 or visit physiciansqualitycare.com.
