In response to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, Reid Health is opening a second respiratory clinic on Wednesday, April 8.
The clinic will be in a wing of the existing Urgent Care facility at 1475 E. Indiana 44 in Connersville.
The clinic is only for people with respiratory illness, and will operate much like the first temporary clinic operating now at 1501 Chester Boulevard in Richmond.
“This location will allow us to continue to assess respiratory illnesses, which in the current environment could likely be the COVID-19 virus,” said Bradley Dubois, M.D., the Reid Health physician who will see clinic patients in Connersville.
Annuradha Bhandari, M.D., Reid Medical Associates, directed the setup of the first clinic and worked with Dr. Dubois and others to establish the Connersville location. She has said the clinics allow better and safer management of patients with possible COVID symptoms.
As in Richmond, no routine COVID-19 nasal swab testing will be offered — and the respiratory clinic service is by appointment only.
The appointments are obtained either by calling the Respiratory Clinic hotline at (765) 965-4200 or using the Reid HealthNOW mobile app to do an initial free screening with a registered nurse from a smart phone, computer or tablet.
Nasal swab testing capability remains limited and is reserved for those who are severely ill and meet testing guidelines per the Indiana State Department of Health.
The Connersville clinic will operate in a separate area of the existing urgent care location to ensure everyone’s safety.
The only effect on the urgent care is that no lab work or X-rays will be available at the location.
Non-respiratory patients needing lab draws or outpatient imaging should go to the lab at 1941 Virginia Avenue.
Respiratory patients, once an appointment is obtained, should remain in their car when they arrive and call (765) 825-8686 for further instruction.
The dedicated clinics reduce potential exposure in suspected cases to others who may have totally different urgent care and/or general medical needs. The clinics also take pressure off emergency departments in Richmond and Connersville.
As a precautionary measure, the respiratory clinic will not have a waiting room – the waiting area will effectively be in patients’ cars. Patients who have an appointment should expect they could be in their car for an extended amount of time.
Anyone with respiratory issues must:
First call the COVID-19 hotline at (765) 965-4200 (available 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week) or get an initial triage with the Reid HealthNOW virtual care app’s FREE COVID-19 screening. Appointments can only be made during the hotline hours, but screening is available 24 hours.
If assessed as needing to do more than remain home in isolation, instructions will be given – including an appointment time – and advised to go to the Respiratory Clinic. Only patients who have taken this step can receive further assessment at the Respiratory Clinic.
Meanwhile, all other non-related urgent care patients are to use the regular wing of the Connersville Urgent Care except for lab draws and X-rays.
HOURS and DETAILS
COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic hotline: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily – (765) 965-4200
Respiratory Clinic hours: By appointment only.
Richmond: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Connersville: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.