WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER!
Palouse Medical & Pullman ReadyCare are open and ready to do all they can to support you, your family and the community during these unprecedented times. Thanks to a partnership with Palouse Medical and Pullman Regional Hospital, starting October 5, there will be expanded COVID-19 testing available with the opening of the ReadyCare Respiratory Center (RRC), located at 690 SE Bishop Blvd. Suite D in Pullman, next to Jiffy Lube. Anyone experiencing upper respiratory, flu-like symptoms or those who have concerns about COVID-19 exposure is encouraged to seek care at the RRC. Insurance will be billed for these services and those without health insurance can consult with Palouse Medical at (509) 332-2517.
This designated, off-site location allows for patients to enter a building to be safely examined, tested, and then to exit through a separate location from the main entry. No appointment or referral is needed. A provider will make an assessment and COVID-19 testing can be performed for diagnosis.
No flu shots will be given in the RRC. Individuals seeking flu shots are encouraged to contact their primary care provider or local pharmacy.
Pullman ReadyCare, located in Palouse Medical, will continue to remain open 7 days a week. Patients with respiratory symptoms or COVID-19 exposure will be directed to seek care at the RRC during their hours of operation, but will have access to ReadyCare outside this schedule.
HOURS OF OPERATION
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PALOUSE MEDICAL: PRIMARY CARE CLINIC
MON – FRI 7:00 AM- 5:00 PM
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READYCARE RESPIRATORY CENTER (RRC)
MON – FRI 8:00am – 4:00pm
SAT – SUN 12:00pm – 3:30pm (New hours as of 11/14/2020)
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PULLMAN READYCARE – STILL OPEN EVERY DAY FOR YOU!
Acute illness & minor injuries. Pullman ReadyCare will no longer provide COVID testing and is only available for non-respiratory care issues.
- MON 8:00am – 6:30pm
- TUES – FRI 7:00am – 6:30pm
- SAT & SUN 9:00am – 11:00am (New hours as of 11/14/2020)
It is important to remember that Symptoms may appear in as few
as 2 DAYS or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.
**IMPORTANT: COVID-19 can be present even with no symptoms**
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These symptoms may include a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. A person’s individual risk depends on their exposure to the virus. Some people have an increased risk of infection, especially those who have had close contact with a positive COVID-19 patient, or those who have traveled recently to an area with community spread.
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WHAT IS COVID-19?A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”. There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT COVID-19
Your Health is Important
Following the guidelines outlined by Washington State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local recommendations from Whitman County Department of Health, Palouse Medical and Pullman ReadyCare are still open and providing care on the Palouse. Our top priority will always be the health and safety of our patients, staff and providers.
⇒ DON’T DELAY YOUR HEALTHCARE!
Getting annual physicals, screenings, and preventive check-ups are essential for your overall well-being. We are concerned that patients are going without important medical care for acute, chronic, or preventable conditions, illnesses or injuries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to contact your provider to schedule an appointment, whether it be in-person, Telehealth, or connect through virtual care visits.
WHAT WE ARE DOING…
We continue to take extra precautions and follow state and federal protocols to keep you as safe as possible including:
- SCREENING ANYONE ENTERING OUR CLINIC
Includes checking of temperature and symptoms for patients, visitors, vendors, staff & providers daily - REQUIRING A FACE MASK
We require a mask or facial covering (over nose and mouth) for all who enter our facilities, per the CDC guidelines.
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- If you do not have a face mask upon arrival at the clinic, one will be provided.
- Implementing physical distancing measures in our waiting areas, hallways and patient care areas
- LIMITING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CLINIC
Limiting the number of people who accompany a patient to an appointment to 1 additional individual (exceptions only for specific cases) - USING APPROPRIATE PPE
Maintaining an adequate inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) for our providers and staff.
- REDUCING EXPOSURE RISKS BY INCREASED CLEANING EFFORTS
Conducting extra cleaning and isolation protocols throughout the day and deep cleaning each night.
Local COVID-19 testing is conducted using a nasopharyngeal (back of the nose) collection or by nasal swab. Palouse Medical is offers COVID-19 testing through ReadyCare.
Beginning August 31, 2020, hours of operation for testing will be:
- Mondays 8:00am – 6:30pm
- Tuesday – Friday 7:00am – 6:30pm
- Saturday & Sunday 9:00am – 3:30pm
Pullman Regional Hospital Testing
Pullman Regional Hospital is also conducting Covid-19 testing. Their Testing Center is at the back of the hospital by the Emergency Department entrance.
Their current hours of operation are:
- 7 days a week, 11:00am – 5:00pm (without a doctor’s order)
- Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 2pm (with a doctor’s order)
If you are an established patient at Palouse Medical, please contact your Primary Care Provider and ask for an order to be tested for COVID-19. Patients not established at Palouse Medical will need to be assessed at ReadyCare prior to being tested.
If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, please contact your doctor, the CDC self-checker tool, or your health insurance nurse advice line.
Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to answer questions from the public about COVID-19. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington State, how the virus is spread and what to do if you have symptoms, please call WSDOH hotline at 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
For current information on our local efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, please visit the Whitman County Public Health’s COVID-19 webpage.