Beginning next week, Nebraska Medicine staff will be collecting specimens for COVID-19 testing on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus. This drive-thru swab site is open only to those who have been given a testing lab order from a Nebraska Medicine provider.
The collection site is expected to begin operation on Monday, April 6. It will be located in Lots M and Lot N. The site will be operating daily from 8 a.m. to noon.
Those referred for testing must present both their photo ID and their lab order. Anyone who does not have a lab order will not be tested.
The purpose of the clinic is to divert testing away from the vulnerable patients and staff at Nebraska Medical Center, Bellevue Medical Center and our health centers throughout the community. It is a safe and convenient way to collect samples for testing away from those patient care areas.
The presence of the clinic on campus does not increase the risk of exposure to the university community.
“This is a safe way to collect samples for testing for the patient, the provider, and the community. The UNO campus community should know that every precaution is in place,” said Mark Rupp, M.D., chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases. “Only Nebraska Medicine staff members will be coming in close contact with the patients reporting for testing; the patient stays in their vehicle. Many other cities and localities have similar drive through facilities in operation. Those taking the samples have been thoroughly trained and will have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to handle the samples.”
Nebraska Medicine is coordinating clinic operations with UNO leadership to ensure the specimen collection causes minimal disruptions to parking and campus traffic.
The following safety measures will remain in place as long as the collection site is open:
- Lots M and N are closed to students, faculty and staff.
- Patients are instructed to arrive through a single entrance: 67th Street off of Dodge. Wayfinding signage will be placed along the route between the west entrance and the clinic to ensure they do not get lost on campus.
- Before patients arrive on campus, they are instructed to proceed directly to the clinic and remain in their vehicles at all times.
- UNO public safety officers will be stationed around campus to help direct patients and to make sure they remain in their vehicles.
- The H & K garage will be disinfected thoroughly each day.
- After samples have been collected, patients will be instructed to immediately exit campus and return home to self isolate.
Nebraska Medicine and UNO staff members will begin set-up and training beginning today.
Nebraska Medicine spokespeople emphasized that this site is only for those with a lab order, referred by a medical provider. This location is not for testing for the general public. If someone in the community believes they need to be tested, they should review the testing guidelines at NebraskaMed.com/COVID or call 402-559-0041 to participate in a phone screening.