HOUSTON, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ibn Sina
Foundation today announced it is launching a second COVID-19
testing site, together with CVS Health, at its Ibn Sina North
Shepherd Community Clinic location. CVS Pharmacists and CVS
Pharmacy colleagues will staff the testing operation. Testing will
be provided at no cost to patients.
"The Ibn Sina Foundation has been serving the uninsured
community for the nearly two decades, providing preventive and
primary medical, dental, diagnostic and specialty care services
through seven community clinics across Greater Houston and Port Arthur areas," said Mr. Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman of the Ibn Sina
Foundation. "We are pleased to work with CVS Health, and today we
are excited to add an additional location to provide free COVID-19
testing services to meet the needs of our patients and community
members."
Testing at Ibn Sina North Shepherd Community Clinic, located at
5012 North Shepherd Drive in Houston, will be open to the
public by appointment beginning Friday, July
17. Patients will need to pre-register in advance by calling
832-426-3760 to schedule a time slot for testing. A personal
vehicle is not required for testing 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.
Rapid COVID-19 testing also continues to be available at the Ibn
Sina Wilcrest Community Clinic location, which the Ibn Sina
Foundation and CVS Health launched last month.
"Following the strong community response to our first testing
site in Houston, we're pleased to
be able to expand our testing capabilities, particularly at a time
of urgent and increased need in the region," said Dr. Garth Graham, Vice President, Community Health
and Chief Community Health Officer, CVS Health. "Ibn Sina
Foundation's deep commitment to the residents it serves has made
them an invaluable partner as we work to bolster local efforts to
manage the spread of the virus and help communities stay
healthy."
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 the Ibn Sina Foundation, to increase
access to care for underserved populations.
"Unfortunately people in Houston and Harris
County are contracting COVID-19 at an alarming rate,
especially in communities of color," said Congresswoman
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18). "I have
repeatedly called for increased access to COVID-19 testing because
testing is the key to saving lives! We must encourage Houstonians,
Texans, and Americans to get tested and to continue adhering to CDC
guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks. This is a
crucial time and there is no doubt more COVID-19 testing is needed.
That is why I am so proud of the efforts displayed by the Ibn Sina
Foundation and CVS health who are committed to providing more
opportunities for no-cost COVID-19 testing to Houston! Only together can we see an end to
the COVID-19 health crisis globally, in our nation, and in our
beloved state of Texas. Remember,
the key to saving lives is testing, testing, testing!"
Ibn Sina Foundation was established in 2001 by a group of
business and healthcare professionals. The Foundation's mission is
to ensure the health of the community by providing integrated,
preventive and primary care in a clinical setting through the
dissemination and application of health-related knowledge, thereby
enhancing the quality of life of people.
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
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SOURCE CVS Health