The Frederick, MD community speaks about sparseness of walk-in COVID testing: It’s not what you might think
An atmosphere of negativity. Raised voices. Opinions expressed in a blunt and despondent manner. This is the atmosphere that one could expect from nearly half a day spent at Westview’s Urgent Care in Frederick on Tuesday- waiting for a walk-in COVID test.
It seems plausible that that’s how the media might portray people waiting many hours to be seen for the same.
However, members from the Frederick community tell a different story. Camaraderie. Gratitude. Waiting with an understanding that the individuals working here, in what could be called ‘the only show in town’ are doing the best they can with a situation that could have been prevented.
We know that the recent surge of illness is affecting our communities, society, country, and world as a whole. But until I walked in here yesterday, at approximately 2pm, both my child and I needing testing because of close contact with a friend who tested positive, it would not have been possible to fully grasp the true status of things.
It also might not be feasible to understand just how greatly Frederick needs immediate changes regarding how we are dealing with surges and continued challenges that arise.
I did not expect to wait for more than four hours- but neither did all the other individuals here. As we were walking in the door one of the pleasant women at the front desk put this sign out for all to see.
I was stunned. Speechless really. When I turned around there were at least eight other people sitting in the lobby with their very young children. Two of the moms explained, calmly but clearly “We have been here since 9am. It’s the only place in Frederick who is doing walk-in COVID testing.”
The issue is not not being able to get an appointment but, like the experience of this writer and many others, it’s the availability of testing and wait times.
“It’s been a long wait but I’m ok with it as other places have already refused to see us, as early as 8:30 this morning,” R.S. a mom with children ages 7 and 3 and healthcare worker at a local hospital tells me.
She is referring to the Frederick Health Village, the outpatient testing center for FMH.
As we are speaking, she is holding one of her children, bouncing him on her knee.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’re ready for this surge because we’ve become complacent. After people started getting the vaccine.” she tells me. “This is the only place who has accepted us.”
To say that the individuals here are happy would be disingenuous but, given the current circumstances there is a calmness and perhaps resignation or acceptance of how things are.
However, it seems reasonable to conclude, that this lack of available walk-in clinics, while perhaps preventable and dysfunctional could still be changed.
Another woman, Susan Scott is here sans children and not in need of a COVID test.
“I got here just before 11am,” she tells me. It is now 2:46pm. I noticed this brightly dressed woman because she made a ‘joke’ when another man walked in the door. Her words made me laugh aloud. Perhaps it was not a joke as much as pointing out the absurdity of the situation. For sure it added a bit of light-heartedness to the situation.
She is here for a hurt knee. “I fell on my knee, and it hurts. It’s hard to walk.” She too is waiting more patiently after all these many hours sitting here, without eating all day, than one might expect someone to be.
Despite the atmosphere, there is a consensus that this situation could have been averted. “I am frustrated that this situation was preventable. Brian Longest, a man living in Frederick, tells me.
“Other developed nations have had no trouble getting tests… I try to be optimistic but it’s hard. I don’t expect that we can snap our fingers and… there will be zero COVID. That is a pipe dream, but we should, at least, be able to get tested for it.
It seems that challenges with receiving testing for something that has existed in this country for a few years now might not be as big of an issue in other cities.
Luis Almonte, a man originally from New York, has lived in Frederick for 5 years, expresses appreciation for the Urgent Care here. “They are willing to put other parts of the business to the side to serve the public.”
Another mother and nurse at a local hospital expresses gratitude, even though she has been here since 9am and some sort of mistake was made with contacting her. “They handled it. We can be grateful that they are doing this because they are the only place that is accessible.”
Looking at other places as an example
“In New York, they are doing what they can to accommodate the large population… They are accessible.” He explains, “If they (Frederick) implemented the same kind of system here they could alleviate 3–4 hour waits.”
Med Express seems to be one such location with long waits but without the guarantee of being seen. “They told me that I needed to arrive by 8am (at which time) the line went around the block,” Patrice, a mother here with her 7-year-old explains.
They did not stay.
Other individuals here had a similar experience saying that there were 102 people in front of them and now they are 38th in line.
This Urgent Care seems to be working hard, not just today but every day in a nonstop fashion.
“We want patients to understand that since a few days before Christmas we have tripled our volume (of Covid tests), but we haven’t tripled our staff,” Paul Pham, the managing partner of this practice explains to me.
“We’ve been dealing with the situation and doing the best we can,” Mr. Pham says. “But there could be a breaking point.”
“Other providers need to provide testing to patients in need. I know not all doctors are (doing so.)”
Solutions?
Perhaps there are solutions and ways to move forward. Members of the community here offer their thoughts:
- “Having mobile offices,” says Mr. Almonte
- “More locations need to be turned into testing sites.” Patrice tells me. “This place is really nice. They allow you to leave unlike other places that I called and ask you to sit all day and you’re not guaranteed a test.”
- Additional providers need to provide testing.
Finding solutions does not seem to be something that all are ready to deal with or speak to. When this journalist contacted the Frederick Health Dept. to discuss this situation the person who answered the phone suggested that people go to other locations including the Health Dept. on 1100 W. Patrick Street. She also said that they have walk ins from 10am-7pm daily.
However, as of this morning the website says- in red: “We are currently out of COVID-19 rapid test kits. We are in the process of procuring additional tests and will provide details soon on how these will be distributed. Test kits are NOT available at the Health Department.”
https://health.frederickcountymd.gov/633/How-To-Get-Tested
Yesterday, this individual was not able to contribute to communicate any additional information.
Young people’s voices
What might some children be thinking? 10-year-old SJC explains, “I feel like myself and maybe some of the people in that room were thinking, “Why do we need to wait more than 3 hours for about a 30 minute appointment?’ I don’t think the people were grumpy, but I can tell that’s what people were thinking.”
“That’s why we need to change this,” she adds. “I don’t like waiting but it’s better to wait for a few hours and get a test and know if you have COVID or not… then walk around places and have no idea…”
Who can argue with that. I would imagine all readers would agree. Maybe you have other potential solutions to these challenges.
As was communicated by a patient there, there is no magic wand, but more must be done to assist so many in need.
I am hopeful that solutions in coming days will emerge.
