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Coronavirus Media Updates

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 illustration

This page is dedicated to media updates regarding how Memorial Healthcare System is working to protect our patients, families and staff during the rapidly changing events surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Corporate Communications News Media Line:
954-265-1136
Contact Request

March 23 Update

Phone Registration for COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Site at CB Smith Park

A new telephone pre-registration process has been established to reduce wait time at the C.B. Smith Park COVID-19 Drive-Thru Test Collection site. People will be able to complete the crucial criteria screening and provide demographical information ahead of time, which is required in order to get tested at the park.

March 21 Update

UPDATES on First Day of COVID-19 Drive-Thru Community Based Testing Site at CB Smith Park

On Friday, March 20th, the COVID-19 drive-thru community based testing site opened at CB Smith Park. At 4:00pm, Governor Ron DeSantis reported 407 tests had been completed. By the end of day, healthcare personnel completed 745 tests in 542 vehicles with passengers in 87 cars who did not meet the criteria that is being used at the site. To clarify, testing will continue daily (7 days a week, which will include the weekend) beginning at 9 am until we reach maximum vehicle capacity inside CB Smith Park, which will likely take us past 5 pm.

“If you are asymptomatic – or just feeling mild flu-like symptoms, and are not in a high-risk category, please do not to come to the testing site. Please stay home, self-isolate, and rest. You can also consult with your physician or use telehealth to consult a doctor about your symptoms or go to your nearest emergency room if you are in severe distress. If you are unsure whether you meet the criteria, visit testing for coronavirus. This testing facility is not providing medical services other than test collection. ” – Dr. Jennifer Goldman, Medical Director Memorial Primary Care, Memorial Healthcare System.

Here once again is the testing criteria:

Who Can Get Tested (Screening): The test will be provided only to those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and meet the following criteria:

  • First responders (policemen, firemen and hospital workers) who are symptomatic (Must bring ID)
  • People aged 65 or older, with COVID-19 symptoms and chronic conditions (Must bring ID)
  • Individuals who meet the testing criteria: symptomatic, have travelled international cruise or air or from an affected geographic area immune compromised with symptoms (Must bring ID)
  • If the person does not meet the criteria, they will be directed to the exit

Additional information can be found here.

If a patient is coming to get tested, here is the latest information from Pembroke Pines Police on how to access the site.

  • General public please enter through the main entrance of the park on Flamingo Rd. and Johnson.
  • Patients that wish to be tested need to be seated by a window.

March 19 Update

The National Guard has converted a portion of C.B. Smith Park into a drive-through testing facility site for COVID-19 sample collection.

March 17 Update

Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020:

  • No visitors are allowed, unless there is a special circumstance, starting March 18 at all Memorial hospital locations. Exceptions include the spouse or significant other of a delivering mother, or one guardian with a pediatric patient.
  • Valet services will be suspended at all Memorial hospitals except at the Medical Office buildings for each location.
  • Elective surgeries will be restricted at all Memorial hospitals. Patients should call their physician’s office to find out if their surgery has been delayed.

Memorial Hospital West and the other hospitals in the Memorial Healthcare System are not sites for testing the general public who don’t meet the CDC criteria for COVID-19 testing.  Furthermore, Memorial Hospital West is not and will not be the site for Drive Thru Testing. In order to be tested for COVID-19, a person must meet the criteria set forth by the CDC and the Department of Health.
 
There will be strict CDC criteria for testing at the forthcoming community drive-thru site, which will be located away from any Memorial hospital. Asymptomatic patients will not be tested as patients need to meet the CDC criteria. Please use MemorialDocNow or primary care physicians instead to assess symptoms and read the CDC and Florida Department of Health sites.

March 16 Update

Tents for Patient Triage

Memorial Healthcare System is diligently monitoring the development of COVID-19 (2019 novel Coronavirus) and taking all appropriate and necessary precautions for the safety and well-being of our community. One of the many initiatives we have instituted is tents outside the emergency departments of our hospitals as a way to better triage patients.

These are not testing sites for COVID-19. These tents are set up very specifically to assure we keep separated those patients who have flu like illnesses from those patients who have other ailments for which they show up in the hospital. We remain vigilant and continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Florida Department of Health guidelines.

Coordinating Drive-through Testing Site

Memorial is working in collaboration with the Governor’s Office to help expanding COVID-19 testing by setting up a community site for collection. We hope to have this up and running by end of this week, working alongside Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the National Guard.

  • The drive-through site will not be open to all for collection for testing.
  • Collection for the testing is not being performed on asymptomatic patients.
  • We are trying to provide this service for our highest risk patient population.
  • There will be strict criteria, which is currently under development.
  • It’s important that we set this site away from the hospitals, and Memorial is looking at a location in the general vicinity of Flamingo Road and Pines Boulevard.
  • Patients who are not ill should not come to the hospital.