The Manitoba government and Doctors Manitoba are working together to enable COVID-19 testing at community medical clinics by physicians.
Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen says having community-based doctors’ offices offering testing is another way to boost screening capacity in Manitoba, “Our government has expanded screening capacity in the past weeks, adding new sites in Winnipeg and Brandon, expanding the ability for other health-care workers to be deployed to screening sites and reducing wait times for a COVID-19 test. We are pleased to be partnering with Doctors Manitoba to provide Manitobans with yet another option to get tested.”
Dakota Medical Centre in Winnipeg will be the first to introduce dedicated COVID-19 testing in community clinics. Testing at this location will become available in the coming days and more information about how to access testing will be available soon, the minister added.
Public health officials have worked with participating clinics to ensure protocols are in place to separate patient testing from regular medical appointments. This includes additional daily disinfection and separating testing from regular appointments by offering it after hours or in a separate area of the clinic. Physicians and staff will also be wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. These measures will ensure clinics can provide testing separately while also providing safe, ongoing medical care for their existing patients.
The initial rollout of community clinic physician testing will focus on clinics that provide capacity to parts of the province that need it, with the opportunity to bring more clinics on board as future needs are identified. It’s not yet known when community clinic testing will be available in Brandon.
The Manitoba government is also working to reduce wait times at testing locations by introducing an appointment-based scheduling system. Manitobans who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will be able to call or go online to schedule an appointment to be tested. The appointment system, including details on how to schedule appointments by phone or online, will be rolled out in the next few weeks.
