Saint Luke's Health System rolls out universal COVID-19 testing

All patients will be tested for coronavirus

WITH HIM TO STOP ANACTIVE SHOOTER.PLUS...Dr. Marc Larsen/Operations Dir.forSt.

Luke's COVID-19 Response"If you need to come to thehospitalwe are here for you."IN A STORY YOU WILLONLY SEE HERE -- THE BIGMOVE ONE LOCALHOSPITAL IS MAKING TOPROTECT PATIENTS ANDSTAFF MEMBERS.STARTING TOMORROW --THE FOUR SAINT LUKE'SHOSPITALS IN THE METROWILL START TESTINGEVERY PATIENT FORCOVID-19.THE UNIVERSAL TESTINGIS BENEFICAL FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS -- WHOTALKED EXCLUSIVELY WITH41 ACTION NEWS ANCHORGABRIELLA PAGAN .THEY SAY -- THIS IS WHATTHEY HAVE ASKED FOR --FROM THE BEGINNING.forSt.

Luke's COVID-19 Response"We are wanting to make surethat we test every patient thatrolls through our door to makesure that our staff are keptsafe as well as all the patientsare kept safe."ACCORDING TO SAINTLUKE'S - SYMPTOMS OFCOVID-19 ARE ONLYPRESENT IN ABOUT HALFOF PATIENTS WHO TESTPOSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.Larsen"We also know that there's alot of asymptomatic carriers ofit, you've seen outbreaks inthe meatpacking plantsaround the country and herelocally as well and many ofthose people are completelyAsymptomatic."BY ROLLING OUTUNIVERSAL TESTING ANDIDENTIFYING THOSEPATIENTS WHO AREPOTENTIALLY POSITIVE - ITWILL ALLOW THEHEALTHCARE SYSTEM TOPRESERVE IT'S AMOUNT OFP-P-E BY KNOWING WHOTO USE IT WITH.SOMETHING MANY FRONTLINE WORKERS HAVE BEENASKING FOR SINCE THEPANDEMIC BROKE OUT.GP:HOW BIG IS THAT?Larsen"it's big."Nurse Kirk Showalter/St.

Luke'sHospital House Supervisor"The fear of the unknown isalways something that sticksin the back of your mind as anurse and knowing that youhave the right type ofequipment on for the right typeof patient is very reassuringwhenever you come to workand also when you're goinghome to your family."ASIDE FROM FEELING LIKEIT WAS TIME, IT WAS ONEOF THE REQUIREMENTS TOSTART REOPENING ANDOFFERING MORE SERVICESTO PATIENTS.Larsen"We understand that patientsare scared right now and theyare not wanting to come to thehospital they are not wantingto be out in public and so wefeel like this will provide themwith that level of comfort tha