LAKELAND, Fla. -- Lakeland Regional Health opened a temporary Respiratory Care Center on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The safety and well-being of our patients, their families and our community are our highest priorities,” Danielle Drummond, MS, FACHE, Lakeland Regional Health President and CEO Elect. “We are constantly researching, assessing and implementing new and innovative ways to provide the safest and best care for our residents during this COVID-19 pandemic. This Respiratory Care Center provides much-needed specialized care and easy-to-access testing for a segment of our population.”
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According to a press release, the center will offer care solely for adults and children, ages two and older, who have COVID-19 symptoms. It's located at the Lakeland Regional Health Pablo Campus at 130 Pablo St.
Symptoms include cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath and nasal congestion.
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Scheduled appointments and walk-in appointments are welcome, the hospital says. Patients will be assigned directly to an exam room when they enter the facility.
The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Patients who already have a prescription for COVID-19 testing from their doctor are encouraged to call ahead at (863) 284-5000. The hospital says testing may be able to be dome from the patients' vehicles.
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COVID-19 testing will no longer be done at Lakeland Regional Health’s Gateway Walk-In Care and Lake Miriam Urgent Care.
“The Respiratory Care Center makes care as simple as possible for patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms during this uncertain time,” said Francisco J. Chebly, MD, Executive Medical Director, Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group. “We also want to protect patients who are visiting our providers with non-COVID-19 ailments and concerns.”
Call (863) 284-5000 to schedule an appointment.
