The Peru Gazette

Hospital one of many options throughout the community 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (3/17/2022) – With the demand for COVID-19 testing in the community significantly declining, The University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is transitioning its testing program to the Main Campus, located at 75 Beekman Street, beginning Saturday, March 26.

COVID-19 testing currently taking place at CVPH Occupational Health & Wellness, located at 23 Hammond Lane, will end at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 25.

“We offer COVID-19 testing that meets very specific needs, including for patients before their procedure and those with a physician order,” CVPH Vice President for Population Health and Information Services Wouter Rietsema, MD noted. “There are many other places in our community that offer COVID-19 testing services, including for free and with no order required. We encourage folks to seek the test that best fits their needs.”

Appointments at the site run by New York State can be made by visiting the Quadrant Biosciences website. This testing site is located in SUNY Plattsburgh’s Adirondack Hall on Sanborn Avenue. Dr. Rietsema pointed out many pharmacies in the region collect samples, and patients can ask their health care provider about available testing. To find COVID-19 testing options nearby, head to the state COVID-19 test finder: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you.

For those who chose CVPH as their testing option, an appointment and physician order is required. Testing appointments can be scheduled by calling (518) 314-3278. Our first floor lab is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. Pre-procedural tests do not require an appointment but they are encouraged. Hospital officials say they are evaluating current COVID-19 testing policies and protocols, and an update for those patients is expected soon.

Patients getting tested in the first-floor lab may experience longer wait times during the transition from the Hammond Lane location, and Dr. Rietsema thanked the community in advance for its patience during the process. Gregory Freeman, CVPH Director of Occupational Health & Wellness, also expressed gratitude for his team’s commitment to caring for patients.

“Our team has done a tremendous job meeting the testing needs of our community, and I am proud of the dedication to our patients through the challenging delta and omicron surges,” Freeman said. “Thousands of people have been able to get answers to help limit the spread of the virus and receive the care and treatments they needed. This transition of testing will allow us to focus all of our energy on meeting the many needs of our employees and the businesses we serve.”

Since the Hammond Lane location opened for community COVID-19 testing on September 7, 2021, more than 27,000 samples have been collected and processed, with a single-day record of 443 on January 5, 2022. Currently, the facility is collecting about 30 samples a day, far below the peaks seen during the omicron surge.

For the latest information on COVID-19 testing available at CVPH, visit https://www.UVMHealth.org/CVPHCOVID19Testing.