WRIL-FM
Mar 26, 20202 min
From ARH -
March 26, 2020 – Stepping up its preparations for the potential surge in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) has set up six Viral Respiratory Clinics throughout the ARH service area for patients experiencing respiratory symptoms such as coughing, fever or difficulty breathing.
To help limit the spread of these illnesses, the designated ARH Viral Respiratory Clinics are now open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Harlan, Hazard, Martin, Middlesboro, Prestonsburg and in Beckley, West Virginia.
Patients should call the clinic prior to arriving. When arriving at the Viral Respiratory Clinic, the patient and their guest should stay in their vehicle. Clinic staff with come out to the vehicle and screen the patient to assess their symptoms and determine if they should see a practitioner at the clinic, or seek care at the nearest ARH Emergency Department.
Patients will be evaluated for the proper type of testing and treatment their conditions requires and will receive a thorough exam that looks for signs of several illnesses, not just the COVID-19 virus.
Staff will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health department recommendations to determine if a patient’s condition requires a COVID-19 test. As the COVID-19 cases continue to spread, these CDC recommendations will change frequently.
To ensure the sickest patients receive care, help minimized the spread of infection and help ensure healthcare facilities are able to maintain resources, the Kentucky Department for Public Health recommends the following guidelines when deciding whether to seek medical care:
Stay home: If you are worried-well, please stay home, or call the the KY or WV COVID-19 Hotlines or the ARH COVID-19 Hotline at 606-439-7100. Going to a hospital or doctor’s office adds to a higher concentration of people and further overwhelms medical staff.
Call for advice: If you are ill, but would not have sought care if not for COVID-19, do not seek in-person care at an ER, hospital or doctor’s office. Instead please call your local healthcare provider or local health department for guidance.
Seek care: If you are sick and feel you have an emergency, please call your doctor or seek medical care. Hospitals and medical staff are prepared and ready to serve you.
ARH understands this is a stressful time for our communities and has developed both COVID-19 website and Hotline.
The ARH COVID-19 Hotline is open from 7a.m to 11 p.m., 7 days a week, to field questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms, testing and prevention. The Hotline can be reached at 606-439-7100. For the most accurate and current ARH COVID-19 updates and information, call the ARH COVID-19 Hotline or Visit www.ARHCOVID19.com.
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The ARH Viral Respiratory Clinic locations include:
Big Sandy Region:
ARH Primary Care Associates
12579 Main Street, Suite 101
Martin, KY 41649
Phone: 606-285-0681
ARH Hometown Clinic
400 University Drive, Suite 101A
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Phone: 606-886-3831
Cumberland Valley Region:
ARH Daniel Boone Clinic
37 Ball Park Road
Harlan, KY 40831
Phone: 606-573-4520
ARH Cumberland Valley Medical and Surgical Associates
3504 W. Cumberland Avenue
Middlesboro, KY 40965
Phone: 606-248-0737
Kentucky River Region:
ARH Hazard Clinic
181 Roy Campbell Dr. Hazard KY. 41701
606-439-1316
West Virginia Region:
ARH Southern West Virginia Clinic
250 Stanaford Road
Beckley, WV 25801
304-254-2600