War Memorial Hospital sets up COVID-19 evaluation drive-thru service

CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — An Upper Peninsula hospital has created an easy way for people to receive an evaluation of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Evaluation Drive-Thru at War Memorial Hospital is designed as a place to obtain triage care from healthcare providers who will evaluate a person’s risk and presence of symptoms.

WMH said the station is not a “testing center.” The healthcare provider will determine and prescribe the course of treatment needed. WMH personnel will provide guidelines on keeping individuals and their families healthy and guidelines for quarantine if advised.

It is located outside of the hospital’s Nolte Street Entrance in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

Patients will need to bring specific items with them to the evaluation station:

• Insurance card
• Personal Identification
• Pen
• Cell phone
• Paper with cell phone number written on it

Patients should take these steps when utilizing the WMH COVID-19 Evaluation Drive-Thru:

1. Pull vehicle up to the Nolte St. entrance from the East (near Riverside Medical) and exit via Pine St.
2. Remain inside vehicle with windows up
3. Complete paperwork while inside vehicle.

The service will be open starting on Tuesday, March 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After that, it will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Patients can call ahead at 906-253-2703 (answered during drive-thru hours).

The hospital also has a hotline available at (906) 632-5922 for those with questions and concerns about COVID-19. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services offers a hotline as well. It can be reached at 888-535-6136 from 8:00-5:00 daily.

If patients need to seek care from the emergency department, they are asked to call (906) 635-4402 ahead of time so the hospital can prepare.

Patients with non-respiratory issues are encouraged to utilize the WMH Community Care Clinics in Sault Ste. Marie and Kinross. The Sault Ste. Marie Clinic is open 7 days per week, 9:00 am – 8:30 pm and the Kinross Clinic is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

All of the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan and around the world is available on our coronavirus page.