MCALLEN, Texas, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- El Milagro Clinic
today announced it has launched rapid COVID-19 testing, together
with CVS Health, at its clinic in the Rio Grande Valley. CVS
Pharmacists and pharmacy employees will staff the testing
operation. Testing will be provided at no cost to
patients.
"We are very excited to be teaming up with CVS Health to
increase the much-needed COVID-19 testing services in our region."
said Marisol Resendez, Executive
Director, El Milagro Clinic. "This collaboration comes at a most
appropriate time as we are experiencing an exponentially increasing
amount of positive COVID-19 cases. We know that it is the uninsured
and underserved in our community that are at a higher risk from
getting severely ill from this virus, and this partnership
highlights our commitment to providing healthcare services to the
most vulnerable. We are grateful for CVS Health's vision to expand
access to testing to those that need it most."
Testing at the El Milagro Clinic, located at 901 E. Vermont
Avenue in McAllen, will be open to
the public by appointment beginning Friday, July 17. Patients
will need to pre-register in advance by calling 956-213-6400, to
schedule a time slot for testing. Testing at the site is
conducted inside the clinic; a personal vehicle is not required and
results will be provided on-the-spot. To be eligible for
testing, patients will need to meet criteria established by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in addition to age
guidelines.
"Working with partners like El Milagro Clinic is an important
part of our comprehensive strategy to increase access to COVID-19
testing," said Dr. Garth Graham,
Vice President, Community Health and Chief Community Health
Officer, CVS Health. "This joint effort allows us to tap into
the network of a trusted organization with strong community ties to
further expand testing in areas of greatest need."
The CVS Health Foundation, a charitable entity associated with
CVS Health, has a longstanding relationship with the National
Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, providing more than
$9 million over the last six years to
help clinics nationwide, like El Milagro Clinic, to increase access
to care for underserved populations.
"Accessible, abundant, efficient and accurate testing is
critical to reining in the surge of COVID-19 in South Texas," said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15). "CVS Health will be an
enormous resource and expand access to testing for our vulnerable
populations. I am grateful for CVS Health for stepping up and
answering our community's call for help."
El Milagro Clinic has provided comprehensive primary, disease
prevention and behavioral health care services to Rio Grande Valley
residents who are medically indigent since 1996.
"Hidalgo County has been
identified as one of the nation's hotspots for COVID-19 with more
than 7,000 known positive cases. Testing is essential to contain
the spread of the virus," said Roberto M.
Garcia, El Milagro Clinic Board Chair. "Mass testing is
taking place at several locations throughout the county; however,
these efforts are presently overwhelmed. We welcome the opportunity
to partner with CVS Health for COVID-19 testing in the battle
against the spread of this virus in our community."
In addition to offering testing together with several community
partners across the country, CVS Health is offering drive-thru
testing at more than 1,400 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide.
Nearly sixty percent of these CVS Pharmacy test sites serve
communities with significant need for support, as measured by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social
Vulnerability Index.
Media Contact:
Monica
Prinzing, (831) 241-8294
PrinzingM@aetna.com
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/el-milagro-clinic-and-cvs-health-launch-covid-19-testing-301094491.html
SOURCE CVS Health