Lexington Medical Center and DHEC Screen 826 Patients for COVID-19 in West Columbia
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June 16, 2020
West Columbia, S.C.– Lexington Medical Center and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control tested 826 patients for COVID-19 at a drive-thru screening today at Brookand Baptist Church in West Columbia. The results will be available in the coming days.
The hospital and DHEC hosted the free screening at the request of Senator Nikki Setzler and Reverend Dr. Charles B. Jackson Sr. The free testing was open to people who live in Cayce and West Columbia. Individuals did not need to have symptoms. No appointments were necessary.
Clinicians administered the tests in a drive-thru format. Patients did not need to get out of their cars.
Testing for COVID-19 involves a nasopharyngeal swab, where a clinician places a special 6-inch cotton swab up both sides of the nose and rotates it around for about 15 seconds. DHEC provided the test kits, which will go to third-party laboratories for processing.
Lexington Medical Center and DHEC are thankful for the support of the Midlands community throughout the coronavirus pandemic as they work to keep everyone healthy and safe.
Further questions about testing should be directed to DHEC at www.scdhec.gov or (803) 898-3432.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
