The News Tribune

Do you think Jefferson City has enough COVID-19 testing sites? Take our reader poll at the end of the story! Jefferson City hospitals have once again approached Cole County officials about the potential for additional COVID-19 testing resources. Mike Hyde, vice president over nursing at St. Mary's Hospital, and Glenda Dahlstrom, vice president over nursing at Capital Region Medical Center, discussed the possibility of the county being involved in this effort during a Thursday meeting with the Cole County Commission. Both hospitals have cut back on COVID-19 testing and told commissioners they weren't sure how much longer they could continue to provide testing at the levels they are right now. Earlier this month, St. Mary's officials confirmed the facility's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site no longer collects samples from patients who aren't showing COVID-19 symptoms. The change came about because the laboratory the hospital uses has limited testing capacity. It is still a requirement that people have a physician's order for testing. The hospital is providing COVID-19 testing only for people who are symptomatic or patients who have an upcoming procedure scheduled. The change has meant some in the Jefferson City area must go to Capital Region Medical Center for testing, which also provides tests with a physician's order and for patients prior to procedures. CRMC has hired additional staff for their site, but Dahlstrom told commissioners the hospital is seeing people come to them from as far as St. Louis and Columbia to be tested, many referred from dentists who require a COVID-19 test before procedures. Some employers are also requiring employees to be tested before returning to work. "What we're looking for is to find a solution to be able to test those who aren't already our patients within our organizations," Hyde said. "We aren't trying to shirk our duties as health care providers. Testing supplies are becoming more scarce and hospitals are at risk of being unable to provide, and that's why we're concerned - because hospitals are opening up again, doing many procedures. Related Article