HATTIESBURG — Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg Clinic announced Monday the creation of a cough and fever clinic in an effort to stop the coronavirus from spreading.
On Wednesday the Cloverleaf Immediate Care facility located at 5909 U.S. 49 S. (adjacent to Wal-Mart) was to be converted to a clinic to assess patients with cough, fever and other respiratory symptoms.
This walk-in clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week and staffed by physicians. Individuals who visit this clinic are not required to call ahead; however, individuals that have symptoms and plan to visit their primary care physician, an emergency room or an immediate care facility are still asked to call ahead.
Forrest General said individuals who have questions about their symptoms should call their primary care provider first.
“It is important, in order to help us contain this virus, that if people do not have these symptoms, they continue to use their current healthcare providers for care,” a news release said.
Patients will be triaged and evaluated, and COVID testing will be done when appropriate based on clinical criteria and guidance for the CDC and Mississippi Department of Health.
It is open to all patients regardless of age or pre-existing medical conditions, regardless of their ability to pay. As patients are triaged, they may be asked to wait in their car until an exam room is available.
Hattiesburg Clinic dialysis and endocriniology patients as well as patients who are presently receiving services at cardiac rehab should continue to receive their care, and measures have been taken to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.
This is not a drive-through clinic. All patients will be assessed by medical staff and screened to determine what testing is appropriate.
Forrest General said it would continue to evaluate options for a drive-through clinic as testing supplies become more readily available.
