After surveying a variety of potential Valley options, Beck connected with Pulse on a possible solution – the parking lot of Ashley Furniture HomeStore Outlet at 13414 E. Sprague
Ave. The property owner, Tombari Properties, became a key to securing the venue along with the Chamber.
“We got a call from the Valley Chamber saying they needed to find a site in the Valley in a couple of weeks,” said Terry Tombari, President and CEO of Tombari Properties. “They
mentioned that location, so we got a lease together and got them in there. This is a social health cause so it’s important to have test sites and this is a convenient location for the
public.”
By March 7, the first cars were pulling into the makeshift clinic.
“We were having a heck of a time finding a site in the Valley,” Pulse said. “Lance and the Chamber were super helpful. They had a number of ideas right off the bat. They were
integral in developing that relationship and helping us secure that space.”
Those who get tested enjoy the convenience of remaining in their vehicles. There is no cost. The site administers two kinds of tests – a rapid antigen version and a lab-based
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. If the rapid test turns up negative, a PCR test follows as a backup.
“We’ve been able to get really large volumes of people tested,” said Kira Lewis, a public health nurse with SRHD. “We are way more streamlined and efficient in how we’re
approaching this.”
Pulse said both the Valley and SFCC sites will remain open through September.
“We hope to be able to continue this beyond September pending solutions for funding,” he said. “I’m optimistic about that.”
Discovery Health MD also has a permanent site at 429 E. Sprague Ave. that specializes in COVID-19 testing for travelers.
“We want people to get a test when they need it,” Pulse said.
Velazquez said the partnership with Discovery Health MD “has been a great collaboration that should continue.” The Valley site has averaged around 70 tests per week since it
opened.
“There’s no appointment necessary,” Velazquez said. “It’s very flexible, very user-friendly. I’ve heard from a lot of citizens who have gone.”
Velazquez emphasized that reining in COVID-19 “reduces the impact on high-acuity clinical settings like ERs and hospitals.” He pointed out other free resources for tests, including
a program through the federal government – www.covid.gov/test that provides at-home kits.
As positive cases have been on the increase this summer, Kelli Hawkins, spokesperson for SRHD, said, continued community teamwork will be one of the factors to an effective
response.
“We now have a process unlike early on in the pandemic,” she said. “These partnerships have been instrumental in finding solutions.”
As for the effort that went into making the Valley site a reality, Beck expressed appreciation for the commitment of his chamber colleagues.
“I’m just really proud of our team and what we did to track down all the property options to make sure the Valley was being served,” he said.
Original source can be found here.
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