Hospital has performed more COVID-19 tests than any other hospital in Ontario
July 27, 2020, BRAMPTON/ETOBICOKE – William Osler Health System (Osler) is recognizing a significant milestone this week, marking the completion of 100,000 COVID-19 tests across its sites on Sunday, July 26.
Osler was one of the first hospitals in the province to open a COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the beginning of the pandemic, and it has since completed more tests than any other hospital in Ontario. The 100,000 figure represents tests completed at Osler’s Assessment Centres in Brampton and Etobicoke, and testing (based on clinical discretion) in Osler’s hospitals.
“Testing is so critically important, particularly in this community as it continues to be challenged by higher numbers of COVID-19 cases,” said Kiki Ferrari, Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations. “Osler is pleased to be working with our dedicated partners at Ontario Health, the City of Brampton, local public health units, and health organizations across the region to make testing more convenient and accessible for a safer, healthier community.”
In the last month, Osler has completed (on average) more than 1,200 tests per day across its sites. It also recently relocated its original ‘walk-in’ Assessment Centre in Brampton to a drive-thru model at a popular city location to better serve the community with expanded options for COVID-19 testing. Since the new location opened in mid-June, the Centre has been testing an average of 540 patients per day. Osler’s Assessment Centre located close to its Etobicoke General Hospital site tests an average of 550 patients per day.
“Osler teams have stepped up in a big way throughout this pandemic, including through the swift opening and dedicated, ongoing staffing of its Assessment Centres to increase safe and convenient testing for the community,” continued Ferrari. “The staff and physicians working at these Centres have endured the seasons’ extreme elements – blizzard-like conditions, extreme heat and humidity, torrential rain, tornado warnings, and long days on their feet in full PPE to perform continuous COVID-19 tests. We commend them along with the rest of our team for going beyond each and every day.”
About Osler’s COVID-19 Assessment Centres
The Brampton Drive-Thru COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located in the north parking lot of the South Fletcher’s Sportsplex at 500 Ray Lawson Boulevard (Kingsknoll Drive at McLaughlin Road – also called Sheridan College Drive), in Brampton. The Etobicoke Drive-Thru COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located in Humber College’s overflow parking lot at Queen’s Plate Drive and Highway 27 (near Etobicoke General Hospital). The Assessment Centres are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. Anyone who feels they need to be tested for COVID-19 will receive a test.
No referral is needed, and family physicians and community-based specialists can confidently refer patients to the Assessment Centres.
ABOUT WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM and FOUNDATION:
William Osler Health System is a hospital system, which includes Brampton Civic Hospital, Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness and Etobicoke General Hospital, and serves 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke and surrounding communities within the Central West region. Osler’s emergency departments are among the busiest in Canada and its labour and delivery program is one of the largest in the province. William Osler Health System Foundation seeks to create a healthier community through giving by inspiring its communities to invest in exceptional health care close to home.