Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Brittany Pertile, a paramedic, and John Friedli, a physician assistant, prepare an ear thermometer to conduct a COVID-19 screening of an individual who is arriving for an appointment on Friday at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and Clinic. The two said the patient screenings involve checking temperatures and asking questions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood - Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and Clinic opened a drive-through screening checkpoint for all people entering the health campus.
The service, which started Wednesday, is a transition from the screenings that had been conducted at doorway entrances to the hospital and clinic.
Vehicles approaching the campus on Grandview Lane will be directed to a lane leading to the Aspirus Eye Care where staff will be taking temperatures and asking questions related to the coronavirus and COVID-19.
"Our goal is to keep our community safe and our staff and patients safe," said Tera Hamel, Aspirus Clinic manager, who designed and coordinates the checkpoint with Luke Wyzlic, physician assistant.
The decision was about checking people at the right place, she said.
Everybody coming in to the campus will be screened, Hamel said. There is no reason to be nervous about the screening as it only lasts a few moments and people will not be required to leave their vehicles, she said.
If someone does have a high temperature or answers questions that place them at risk they will be referred to the COVID-19 informational call line on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT at 906-487-5545, the state hotline at 888-535-6136 or visit michigan.gov/coronavirus.
