Ochsner Health information on testing and COVID safety

From the Ochsner Health System:

If you are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms and seeking a COVID-19 test:
--Stay home if you are not well. You do not need a positive test to do the right thing if you are feeling sick.
--We recommend rapid at-home testing kits if available. We also continue to provide community and drive-thru testing locations across the region, which can be found at ochsner.org/testing. PCR tests are being performed at our community testing locations, and results can take up to 72 hours.
--Virtual visits are available for common illnesses and other urgent care needs. If you'd like to see a provider without leaving home, visit ochsner.org/anywhere to start an Ochsner Anywhere Care virtual visit.
--Ochsner has also created a free COVID-19 Self Care and Symptom Monitoring Program for community members who have tested positive for COVID-19. Most people who are experiencing mild or moderate symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 can be treated at home. If symptoms worsen, Ochsner’s care team will be there to triage and guide on next steps and treatment options.

If you are not experiencing symptoms (if you are asymptomatic) and are seeking a COVID-19 test for work, travel or peace of mind:
--We recommend rapid at-home testing kits if available. We also continue to provide community and drive-thru testing locations across the region, which can be found at ochsner.org/testing. PCR tests are being performed at our community testing locations, and results can take up to 72 hours.
--Due to unprecedented demand on test sites, Ochsner urgent care clinics and emergency departments will no longer be able to provide COVID-19 tests for patients experiencing no symptoms (asymptomatic), effective immediately. Rapid testing will be limited to patients with medical conditions who are determined to need immediate COVID-19 status awareness after a medical screening exam is performed.
“Urgent and emergency department care is available so that people who are experiencing urgent or life-threatening medical conditions can get the immediate help they need, and as a community we need to ensure those people have access to that medical care,” said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, System Medical Director of Hospital Quality. “We are asking our community members who are asymptomatic and seeking a COVID-19 test to take an at-home test or go to a community testing site, not the emergency department. We understand the challenges and frustrations our patients are experiencing, including long wait times, and our teams are working tirelessly to secure additional testing resources for our patients and members of our communities.”

Key Points for Community Members:
--Stay home if you are not feeling well. While no one wants to miss out on holiday time with their families, people who are not feeling well should stay home. We encourage people to take an at-home rapid test if available. Whether or not you test positive for COVID, it is safer for everyone if you stay home when not feeling well.
--Don’t let a negative COVID-19 test change your precautions. This is the time of year that flu and other respiratory viruses are present in our community. Just because you have a negative COVID-19 test doesn’t mean it’s safe to engage with others in large crowds or stop using your mask. If you do not feel well, with any symptoms, please stay home and help prevent the spread of all contagious viruses in the community. If you do have to leave your home, please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
--Do not go to an urgent care or emergency department if you are not in need of urgent or emergency care. Emergency departments and urgent care clinics are for those who need urgent or life-saving care. If you are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and are seeking a COVID-19 test, please visit ochsner.org/testing or ldh.la.gov for community testing locations. We also recommend at-home testing, and many of the at-home rapid test kits are the same tests Ochsner utilizes in various healthcare settings.
--Get vaccinated or get boosted. Vaccines prevent severe disease, hospitalizations and death and are now available for children ages 5 and up. If you haven’t been vaccinated, please do. If you haven’t received your booster, get your booster shot today. Booster shots offer a significantly increased level of protection. Getting vaccinated is the best gift you can give yourself, your family, friends and community this holiday season.
-- Take precautions, mask up indoors and avoid large group gatherings indoors. You don’t need a mandate to wear a mask. If traveling, make sure to check the current COVID-19 situation at your intended destination. The CDC also recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you plan to travel by air, check if your airline requires any testing or vaccination status.

Important Resources and Information:
--If you'd like to see a provider without leaving home, visit ochsner.org/anywhere to start an Ochsner Anywhere Care virtual visit.
--Community members who have tested positive for COVID-19 can complete this quick form to be automatically registered in the COVID-19 Self Care and Symptom Monitoring Program.
--Ochsner is updating information on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing on its website regularly.
--Testing Locations – Community testing locations and hours are being frequently updated and can be found through Ochsner Health at ochsner.org/testing or through the Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov.
--To enhance patient safety during this surge, Ochsner facilities have also updated visitor policies, found here.