Urgent care clinics continually evolve to serve the current needs of their community. A major medical concern for everyone today is the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic, so these walk-in clinics have likewise had to adapt – to keep everyone healthy while also keeping everyone safe from the virus, both staff and patients alike.
The good news is that urgent care centers have been able to quickly refine their response to the virus while also maintaining their ability to provide immediate healthcare to patients.
You may not be aware of what medical services urgent care clinics have made available since the start of the pandemic, and what precautions are in place for those who need nonemergency medical treatment quickly. Let’s talk about what you can expect during your next visit to an urgent care clinic, and where you can go in Garfield for outstanding medical care without an appointment.
Urgent Care Centers Taking Extra Precautions for Safety
Because hospitals and clinics nationwide quickly requested to have consistent guidance from the federal government in regards to COVID-19 safety protocols, the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) released guidelines for managing healthcare operations during the pandemic. The purpose of the guidelines is to protect both the medical workforce and patients, knowing how quickly and easily a respiratory virus like this can spread.
That guidance includes the following:
- Everyone in the healthcare facility should wear face masks at all times.
- Everyone should also try to maintain social distancing as much as possible.
- Everyone is advised to use hand sanitizer or alcohol-based cleansing wipes to keep hands clean.
Keeping Hands and Surfaces Clean
Urgent care clinics are also to follow the enhanced cleaning protocol, which involves the frequent sanitation of examination rooms and communal areas. After a patient has left a room, the room is to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Hand sanitizer should also be made available to everyone and placed at various locations throughout the center.
What if a Healthcare Worker Is Exposed to the Coronavirus?
Healthcare workers and providers are to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to prevent possible exposure to and spread of the virus, in case they come into contact with anyone who may be infected with COVID-19. If a healthcare provider tests positive for the virus, they are to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.
Urgent Care Centers Making COVID-19 Testing Easily Available
For optimum safety of staff and patients, many urgent care clinics now perform drive-through COVID-19 testing – usually in their parking lot. The patient can remain in their car while they are being tested for the coronavirus.
Urgent Care Clinic in Garfield and Bergen County, NJ
If you need urgent medical care, your choice of urgent care center is important in keeping you safe. At My Doc Urgent Care in Garfield, New Jersey, we have a drive-through window where patients can choose one of three COVID-19 tests: the rapid antigen (nasal swab) test, the PCR (nasal swab) test, or the antibody (blood) test.
The rapid antigen test results are available in less than an hour, and the other two test results are ready within two days. Test results can be accessed online.
If you have any questions or would like to let us know you’re coming, call us at (862) 295-3501. Walk right in during our regular hours – there is no need to make an appointment. We are conveniently located on Passaic Street off Route 21 in Garfield, New Jersey, and we look forward to seeing you here.
