Ascension Medical Group Immediate Care has expanded its capacity by opening a temporary respiratory testing site.

Officials in a press release said that the they are currently caring for roughly 140 patients per day, and receiving calls for twice that amount. They added that many calls received are from patients have viral respiratory symptoms that need to be assessed.

In response to this, when patients call the Immediate Care clinic at 316-274-8107 to schedule their appointment, they will be directed to press 1 for COVID-19/respiratory care. Their symptoms then will be assessed to determine whether an office visit is needed or simply a swab specimen collected and sent to the lab for testing.

If the patient needs an office visit, an appointment will be scheduled at the Immediate Care clinic at 3311 E. Murdock. If only testing is needed, the patient will be scheduled at the temporary testing site, where they will be checked in and given patient portal paperwork to complete.

After they have been swabbed, their specimen will be sent to the lab and they will be given quarantine instructions and told to watch for their results to be posted on their patient portal within 48 – 72 hours.

The off-site testing-only location will be open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and will serve approximately 100 patients a day for as long as it is needed.