March 20, 2020 – Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) will begin Coronavirus COVID-19 testing in Monroe county on Monday, March 23, 2020. Testing will be conducted via a drive through set up at the Marathon Community Park, 200 City Marina, Marathon, FL 33050 from 10am to 1pm. Testing in Marathon will only be for Monroe County residents who meet criteria for testing.
In addition to Monroe County, CHI was the first to offer drive through testing in Miami-Dade County and continues to do so Monday through Friday from 9am to noon at the Doris Ison Health Center, 10300 SW 216 St., Miami, FL 33190. As of March 20th the organization has screened more than 700 people and tested nearly 170 people.
Patients should call first for a phone screening at (305) 252-4820 before coming to get tested. They need to meet the following criteria: They have recently traveled to any of the affected countries or have been in contact with someone who has the COVID-19. (Patients may be asked for objective evidence of travel or a Department of Health notification of a direct COVID-19 patient contact. This is to ensure that only the appropriate people get tested). In addition, they might be experiencing the following symptoms: fever, cough or shortness of breath. Those with severe symptoms should go to the emergency department.
“CHI’s motto is patient care comes first,” said Brodes H. Hartley, Jr., President and CEO of CHI. “We have lived up to that motto for nearly 50 years and we take our role as first responders very seriously. This is a crisis and we want to make sure we are there for the community when they need us most.”
CHI has also integrated behavioral health staff into its COVID-19 testing operations. This team of therapists and mental health technicians helps to ease anxiety and stress related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
CHI’s COVID-19 response team has been working closely with local, state and federal agencies to coordinate care and adhere to guidelines and best practices in this rapidly changing situation.
Since 1971, CHI has been a beacon of hope providing access to high quality healthcare for all regardless of insurance status, income level or background. The non-profit federally qualified health center offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, urgent care, behavioral health, vision, radiology, pharmacy, transportation and more. CHI has 11 health centers and 35 school-based health centers. CHI is a recipient of the Governor’s Sterling Award, it is accredited by the Joint Commission and is also accredited as a patient centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. CHI is also designated as a behavioral health medical home. In addition, CHI is home to the Brodes H. Hartley Jr., Teaching Health Center, training the next generation of doctors in primary care and psychiatry. CHI intends to break ground in 2020 on the first Children’s Crisis Center in southern Miami-Dade County. It will service kids with severe behavioral health problems from Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties.
