Michigan Medicine will be offering COVID-19 curbside screening for doctor-referred patients at three of its facilities.

Starting March 17, Michigan Medicine patients who have an appointment through their providers may use the screening service in the parking lots of the West Ann Arbor Health Center, Canton Health Center and Brighton Health Center.

Patients will call a hotline staffed by nurses and go through a multi-step screening process. They must be referred by physicians for curbside screening.  Those who arrive without an appointment will not be screened.

“We are offering curbside testing to help reduce the need of potentially infected patients to come inside our clinics and hospital and thus minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure to our employees and patients,” says Michael Mulholland, M.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for clinical affairs at Michigan Medicine and executive director of the University of Michigan Medical Group.

“Screening is not necessary for everyone. Many patients with COVID-19 have mild symptoms that can be managed at home. The first step for any concerned patient should be to call their physician before seeking treatment at a health care facility.”

Testing will be requested by Michigan Medicine providers with a focus on high-risk patients, including elderly patients and those with immuno-compromised conditions.

Patients who meet the criteria for testing will receive a swab through the window of their car. The test may either be sent to the state testing lab or a private lab and results could take several days.

“Our top priority is keeping our patients, employees and community as safe as possible during this unprecedented time,” Mulholland says.