DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

On Apr. 1, 2020, the Prince Edward Family Health Team (PEFHT), Quinte Health Care (QHC), and Prince Edward County (PEC) opened the doors of the Prince Edward COVID-19 Assessment Centre which operates by appointment only, as an outdoor, drive-through facility.

The assessment centre’s purpose is to assess and, when appropriate, test people who may be infected with COVID-19, in an environment where risk of transmission is low.

Family Health Team physician Dr. Elizabeth Christie said in a statement, “Our goal is to minimize the number of patients going to their family physician’s offices and the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.”

The COVID-19 by appointment only Assessment Centre will operate seven days per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For safety reasons, unscheduled appointments are strictly prohibited and not every patient who is seen at the assessment centre will be tested.

Patients wondering if they should be assessed are advised to call their family physician, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at 613-966-5500, or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. The County of Prince Edward cannot offer appointments or take messages. An assessment centre in Belleville is also available for patients living there, which takes referrals the same way and one will soon be opening in North Hastings.

“Patients can expect to give their basic information to administrative staff and then talk to the nurse to discuss their symptoms by telephone,” Dr. Christie explained. “If the nurse and doctor decide the patient needs to be seen, they will be given a time to drive to the assessment centre.”

The assessment is done by the doctor with the patient inside their car. From there, the doctor will provide medical advice and follow-up as needed.

The Prince Edward County COVID-19 Assessment Centre is the result of excellent collaboration between local family physicians, the PEFHT, QHC, Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health and the County of Prince Edward.

“We are very grateful to the County and its wonderful staff, Fields on West Lake for its tent, and to the many volunteers of Prince Edward County who have contributed equipment, scrubs and personal protective equipment,” expressed Dr. Christie in a statement.

If you would like to help make gowns or masks for Picton’s assessment centre, please contact ppe4pec@gmail.com or

go to the “PPE for PEC” Facebook page here www.facebook.com/PPE-for-PEC-102784844708369/

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